Disclaimer: I own nothing but my plot and my new created figures.

Akane shivered in sympathy for Kagome. Koga had just taken her and Taiki inside and she looked a little bit frozen. Handing her a cup of tea and some chocolate cake on a plate.

"Wow, you have my deepest respect." She grinned at the young miko in front of her. "Nearly two hours at this temperatures on a blanket in the garden and as if this is not enough you had my hyper-energetic brother with you."

"It was fun and it wasn´t that cold." Kagome grinned back and grabbed a fork from her. "The blanket had a thermo-underside and your brother is a little heater himself. Especially if he crawls all over you." Both females were laughing and began digging in their cake.

"Here you are! Taiki is on his way for his nap?" Akame seated herself next to her daughter. "Oh please, honey, can I have some tea and cake too?"

"Sure, mom! Dad is upstairs with Taiki. Have you plans for the rest of the day, Kagome?" Handing her mother the cake and tea she looked at the human woman. "I would like to go shopping and was wondering if you would like to come with me."

"Sounds great, I have to go to the medical school first, but afterwards I´m free." Turning around Kagome looked at the clock at the wall. "It´s no w two and I have only two homework's I need to deliver. How sounds half past three at Coffee-Star to you?"

"Great!" The young yōkai clapped her hands in delight. "I´m so looking forward to this! I need shoes and new dress and..." Kagome laughed and Ayame shook her head.

Sipping at her mug of Latte Macchiatto she glanced at the clock, again. It were now slightly more then two hours that she was sitting here, waiting for her friend to show off. Taking her cell she flipped it open and pressed the now familiar speed-dial-button for what seemed the fifties time. She didn´t need to wait for it´s ringing. The other one had hers switched off.

With a soft sigh she took another sip, than she looked at the cell in her hands, thinking for a moment. Making her decision she flipped the cell open again, pressed another button and waited impatient for the connection.

"Dad? It´s me, I think something happened to Kagome."

Sitting alone in his study he massaged the bridge of his nose. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply. It was late, nearly midnight and circa an hour ago it had begun to snow. Bending forward he grabbed the mouse and begun to shut down his computer. The silence was broken by the shrill ringing of his phone. With a frown he recognized the number and hesitated.

"Taisho..."

"Hey, here is Koga. Sorry to disturb you, but Kagome is missing and we need all help to find her. We´re searching for hours now."

"The miko is no longer my concern." He growled in the phone, closing his molten eyes. "She is a grown woman and when she decides for a night out it is neither my nor your turn to get her home on time."

"No, look, you don´t understand. We..."

"Good evening." He hung up without waiting for a response and sorted through the rest of his work of the day. After ten minutes he heard hurried steps on the stairs. Within seconds he was on the top stair and looked down. "Ryo? You are still here?"

"Yeah, I had some things that needed to be done. Sorry, but I´m in a hurry." The tanuki looked frowning up to him. The tai could sense anger radiating around the other. "I just got a call from Koga and I think they need all help that they can get. It is absolutely not like the miko to vanish without informing anybody. I heard already that you don´t wish to help, but I think you should. She is after all still under your protection."

"The miko is no longer my concern. Good evening!" He turned and went back to his study. Deep in thought he looked out of the window for a few minutes until he came to an decision. Grabbing his jacket, he put it on and took his keys on his his way down. So he would not tell anybody he knew it was right, he was her protector, her alpha, even now.

He took the Jeep and drove calmly through the streets till his destination. Sitting in his car he could see the cars and their owners in front of the big house. With closed eyes he listened to them. It was not difficult for him for they were talking loudly in their turmoil.

Within seconds the figures vanished in the darkness and he left the car. He stood on the pavement and looked around. For a moment he simple stood there, then he began to spread his senses. With closed eyes he inhaled deeply, catching each scent surrounding him. It was not easy for the snow already began to erase many. Separating first the new one from the old and then the one he searched from the rest.

As he opened his eyes again he began to walk, concentrating on this special scent. When he came to a bus-stop he looked at the charts and knew instantly where he had to go. It felt good to run, it had been a long while since he where tracking someone this way down and he liked it. Reaching to his goal, the campus, he came to an abrupt halt, again spreading his senses.

Soon he found the scent he was searching for he made his way over the wide area. Meticulously he followed the track in front of him. It was old, nearly ten hours by now and faded fast. He made his way over the place till he came to the point were the newest fades of the scent were. Frowning he looked around him. He was in the middle of a big square and the track ended here.

The scent ended here and there were only three ways for how this could have happened. First was that she had taken of in the skies and he knew this was not possible, second the miko had masked his scent and aura and he knew this was not the case. The last option were that someone took the miko away from here.

Sitting on a nearby bench he mused for a moment over the situation. His feeling told him that she was here. Somehow he knew that she hadn´t left the campus, but the question was were she was and why he couldn´t feel her. Suddenly he began to stretch his aura as far as possible, sending pulses through it, calling for her.

When he was near to give up he felt it. Faint but unique her aura had begun to call back. Jumping to his feet he tried to follow her calls, never stopping his own pulses. It was difficult to follow her aura but somehow he managed it and found himself standing in front of a lone clubroom. He lifted his hand to open the door when he felt a slight crackling. For a second he could see a translucent violet barrier.

Frowning he pushed his yōki against it watching it flare, fight and then brake down. The moment the barrier collapsed the pulses of Kagome´s aura became much stronger. Pushing the door open he nearly fell over her. She laid on the floor in front of the door. In the background lay her wheelchair on its side. He could see that it was damaged and that someone had sliced the seat and the wheels. Next to it laid her crushed cell.

Kneeling down beside the unconscious female he touched her cheek. She was ice-cold, her breathing shallow and her heartbeat slow. He could see that she was bleeding from several wounds and had many bruises were her skin was bared. Wondering why they didn´t heal already he knew that she had been heavy beaten up.

Carefully he turned her on her back, shrugging his jacket from his shoulders he wrapped it around her and lifted the miko in his arms. Looking around in the small room he noticed her bag and went to retrieve it. Once he had placed it around his shoulder he made his way out, pressing the small woman against him.

The moment he left the campus her eyes fluttered open. It took a few seconds for her to focus her gaze but then a small smile graced her features.

"You came." She sounded happy, her voice nothing more than a whisper. "I knew you would find me."

"Hn." Looking down at her he slowed his tempo. "How so?"

"You are Sesshōmaru, you are my alpha." She snuggled deeper in his embrace. He didn´t know what to say at this. It surprised him that she trusted him that much, even after his behavior in the last weeks. Pressing her even closer he inhaled her scent, listened to her still shallow breathing and heartbeat. "You gave me your jacket. Aren´t you freezing?"

"You need to see Ryo." Pulling the jacket closer around her he ignored her question. She should knew by now that he was not disturbed by the elements like a human. "Who did this?"

"There are some demonesses that would like to mate Shippo and they think I stand in their way." She saw him frowning. "They are very lonely with this mating wish and they don´t understand that Shippo and me share another kind of love. I guess they thought to use the opportunity that he is not here to protect me."

"Why didn´t you defend yourself?" He lifted one slender brow in question. Instead of an answer she bared her throat at him. Something inside him churned at this sight. But then he saw it, a narrow collar that fitted close around her slender neck. It was pulsing with a confusing dark-green aura. He could sense that it was locking her powers inside her.

"I can´t take it of and I can feel that it weakens me." Shuddering slightly she hooked a finger in the collar and gave it a soft pull. Instantly it glowed and she winced as it hurt her.

"Don´t!" He gave her a stern glance. "I´ll look for it when you are home." He laid his head back and gave a loud, long howl. "I told the other that I´ve found you. Now hold on, I´ll speed up."

They arrived within minutes in front of Koga´s house. The others were already waiting for them. Kagome had fallen asleep and he could hear her breathing had become a little bit better. Koga came running to him, making an attempt to take her from him. A low growl stopped him instantly.

"She is injured and someone has locked her powers." Sesshōmaru looked at the yōkai in front of him. "Ryo, come, she needs your aid. We will bring her home."

Later that night, it was near dawn, Kagome opened her eyes. A smile spread over her face as she took in her surroundings. She was in great pain and could feel that she was still wearing the stupid collar, but she was back. Sesshōmaru had really taken her home, her home by his side. Her wounds were tended and she felt at peace for the first time in the last weeks.

"I´m back..." Turning her head she looked at the tall figure at the foot of her bed.

"Welcome home, Kagome."

A/N: Next chapter ready! Please read and review. I´m looking forward for your opinions.