Chapter 28

Kagome threw her bag down against the rock beside the spring. Erecting a barrier around herself and the spring, she began to disrobe, careful not to get blood on her clothes. She placed them on the rock with her bag and carefully stepped into the water. Sighing as the hot water soothed her achy bones, she relaxed against the wall. She pulled some shampoo from her bag and lathered plenty of it into her hair, trying to scrub out her worries and stress.

Inhaling a deep breath, she dunked her head into the water and scrubbed all the soap out. When she rose, she noticed a shadow moving right in front of her. Gasping, she reached for her sword, forgetting she was naked, and stood defensively in the water.

"Who's there?" she called out.

"Well, that stuff in you're hair smells just wonderful," came a female voice.

Suddenly, the area picked up with wind and leaves and debris flew all around Kagome. When the dust settled she looked up to see Kagura standing in front of her, her feather in her hand.

"What do you want, Kagura?" Kagome asked in a strong voice. She realized her nakedness then and sunk further into the water, causing Kagura to laugh.

"What? We are both females. It's nothing I haven't seen on myself," she teased at Kagome's embarrassment. "Oh don't worry, I'm not here to fight you," she said nonchalantly.

"Then why are you here?" she asked wearily. Kagura stepped up to her, making Kagome ready her sword again, but she was surprised when she saw her reach down and pick up the shampoo bottle, sniffing it.

"So, are you no longer under the over-protective wing of Lord Sesshomaru?" she asked laughing.

"I don't need his protection," she scoffed. Kagura eyed her up and down, then shoved her nose up.

"Fool," she threw the bottle into the water, splashing it all over Kagome. "You will," she said getting on her feather in one swift motion.

"Hey! That's it? Kagura why did you even bother coming here?"

Kagura looked over her shoulder at the miko. "Tell me, priestess, do you love Sesshomaru's ward?"

Kagome was stunned at the randomness of the question. "Why are you asking about her?" Fear prickled in her senses.

"When was the last time you've seen her?" Kagura asked, trying to get a point across to Kagome discreetly. Kagome was confused, then realization hit her like an 18 wheel truck. Suddenly, her breath hitched, her blood ran cold, and fear and fury couldn't describe the feeling that soared in her veins.

"What have you done with Rin?" Kagome yelled out, completely abandoning her shame and leaped out of the water, ready to attack.

"I have not done anything. Perhaps Sesshomaru should have kept a closer eye on the girl, than on his…lady friend," she said laughing.

"WHERE IS SHE?" Kagome bellowed. But it fell on deaf ears as Kagura began to fly away. "KAGURA! I've known for so long that you are only a slave to Naraku. Even if you are a demon, the disgusting things he has done are too much for you. Yet you can't escape it, can you?" she said hoping it would pause her. It worked. Kagura kept her back to Kagome, but she could tell she was listening.

"Help me. I swear on everything holy, I will help you in return," she promised, pleading.

Kagura looked over her shoulder at the girl, and Kagome noticed something she hadn't before. Kagura eyes had lost all hope of escaping. She had given up. "No holy magic in the world can save me. But the girl…you can save her. He is where you least suspect, where the moon does not rise, and the sun does not set. He is where air does not exist and breathing is forbidden." Kagura paused, and Kagome noticed something flicker in her eyes. Sadness? "Find him, Kagome. She is bait, dead or alive. Better get there while she still has a pulse," she warned, then flew off.

Kagome was stunned. Tears had long before flooded her face, and she felt as if she were standing on ice. She had looked to Shippo as her son, and she knew something maternal in her was pulling her to Rin.

She threw on her clothing, tying her hair in a messy knot, and took off in the direction that Kagura had gone.

Miyuki was starting to get annoyed. Kagome kept jumping from village to village. She was almost impressed with how far she'd gone. But as the sky was beginning to wane to darkenss, Miyuki wanted to find her already. She stumbled on a village that she recognized but couldn't place her finger on it. Walking into it, the youkai hushed and stared at her in awe. She smiled to the onlookers and decided to ask a few of them if they had seen the miko.

She was about to approach a vendor when suddenly she was gripped by her shoulders and spun around.

"How dare you!" she exclaimed, baring her claws. When she saw who had grabbed her, she paled. "Hi…Hiro?" she asked in shock.

The sullen face of her childhood friend upturned slightly into a smile. She then noticed the newborn infant in his arms. "Oh! Uh…oh my. Congratulations, Hiro," she smiled. "Who did you take for a mate?" He turned his face away from her and walked away, gesturing for her to follow him. After a few moments of awkward silence as they walked towards his home, she noticed the heavy scent of blood coming from where he had been. Her heart sunk as she quietly pieced things together.

They entered his miniature palace on the north side of the village. The servants, all of whom had been heavily crying just moments before, bowed to them as they walked passed. He entered his office and sat upon his chair, looking at the babe with sad, gentle eyes.

"I'm sorry," Miyuki whispered as she took a seat beside him. "Old friend, I know I have not seen you in so long, but please tell me if there is anything I could do?" she offered.

"Bring her back," he croaked not taking his eyes off his son. Miyuki's heart broke for him. Seeming to have snapped out of his sullen state, he glanced up at her and offered a bright smile. "It brings me pleasure to see you again, Mimi," he said, referring to her by her childhood nickname. Despite the air in the room, she couldn't' help but laugh.

"It brings me pleasure to be back. So much has changed," her eyes drifted to the boy. "He looks quite a lot like you. What did you name him?"

"Mia wanted to name him Riyuko. I destested it for what ever reason. We faught like cats and dogs," he paused and snickered at her offended gasp. "But alas, it seems as though she won the war. Riyuko it is." He nuzzled his son and the babe cooed to him in reply. They both giggled like children and soon were reminiscing at old times.

Hiro had studied at her father's palace when he was much younger. She had met him in the palace library, when she was 13, in human years. His blue eyes had first drawn her to him. It was rare to see such a color on an inu. He found her staring and blushed, realizing it was the princess. The 15 year old bowed as he told her "I apologize if I am in you're way, Milady."

"No, not at all," she said smiling and brushing the idea away with her hand. "I was bored and wanted to see if there was anything interesting to read down here," she said glancing at the large book shelves.

"Well, I've been studying here for quite some time, I suppose I could direct you to any book you'd like?"

"Why don't you tell me what you've got there in your hand?" she said nodding to his scroll. They sat against one of the walls and discussed almost every book in the library.

Ever since that day they would always meet there at noon and study together. They were fascinated by the same subjects, and were sometimes lost for hours in their scrolls.

Eventually they would take their studying outside and, as children do, took play breaks. They would push each other down hills, race to the palace, and were really quite competitive with each other. It always turned out the same, they equally won every game.

Then the war began. Attacks started happening to villages in the eastern province and soon, Hiro was drafted to war with his father. They stood in the library, and placed a secret book, hidden among all the others. Within it, contained locks of both their hair, and stories of all their adventures. So that one day, they would stumble across it again, and be friends as they once were. It was a sad day, a day in which neither so the other ever again.

Hiro, now a minor lord and cradling his heir, stood and reached into his desk, producing the book. Miyuki gasped and reached for it, flipping through the pages.

"How did you get this? They burned down the palace?" she questioned him.

"I went back when I heard the palace was under attack. They told me the Lord and Lady had been found murdered, but you were nowhere in sight. I thought, maybe you were hiding in the library. When I didn't find you, I could have only hoped you escaped. I tried sniffing you out, but you simply vanished. I took the book to remember you. I escaped and fled to the west, knowing Lord Sesshomaru was an ally," he said his voice dropping. He also knew about what was going on between Miyuki and Sesshomaru. He, to this day, could not say he wasn't jealous. Or isn't jealous…even still.

She nodded, and placed the book back upon his desk. The baby started to cry and Hiro tried to shush him, but Riyuko just would not. Standing, Miyuki outstretched her arms. "May I?" she asked. He looked at her for a moment then passed his son to her.

She brought him close to her bosom, pouring warmth to his little body. She stroked his cheek and gently bounced him in her arms. The infant could smell that this was not his mother and his bottom lip quivered in protest. But Miyuki's soothing movements and warmth soon lulled him to sleep.

"That was amazing, Mimi. You could be quite the mother," Hiro smiled, reaching for his son.

She smiled softly as she passed the infant to his father. "Well, one day, I hope." She glanced out his window and bit her lip. "Hiro, I came to this village because I was following the scent of a friend. A miko. Have you seen her come by?"

Hiro's eyes locked to hers and she could feel his aura shift intensely. "She saved my son's life. My mate had…" he turned his back to Miyuki so she wouldn't see his eyes. "She hemorrhaged and bled to death. Riyuko's life was in danger. The miko delivered him safely." He turned back to face her. "She left the village right after the birth. She was…covered in blood and there are springs near by. Perhaps she went there to bathe. I was going to offer her a room for the night, but she refused my debt."

"Yes, that sounds like her. I have to look for her," Miyuki said turning to leave.

"Well hold on there. It is dark and I don't think Lord Sesshomaru would appreciate you being alone in these times. I will accompany you." Miyuki was about to protest when a female servant entered almost on command and took the infant from Hiro. He walked out of his office and turned to give her a raised eyebrow.

"Coming?"

Sighing in defeat, she conceded and allowed him to escort her. Is it Lord Sesshomaru you are worried about. Or is there another who does not want me alone? She asked him in silence. She was answered almost on cue when suddenly she felt his aura spread out in front of him when they left the palace, to warn others to keep away from her. He was not nearly as powerful as Sesshomaru, but she remembered he could very easily hold his own.

As they approached the spring, things didn't seem right. Miyuki could smell the blood of his mate in the water, but there were drippings all over the snow. As if Kagome had jumped in then immediately jumped out. There were marks in the snow as if a huge gust of wind blew through it and, judging by the smudge mark, Kagome's foot steps running in a totally random direction.

Then they both smelled it. They faint scent of a strong demoness. It didn't appear to be a battle sight, but these two had an encounter. "Should we follow the footsteps?" she asked him.

He thought for a moment before answering. "How powerful is she in battle?"

"She's a strong healer, but I have only seen her battle once. I…I don't think she is trained enough."

"Then we follow. This could be a deliberate trap for her," he said taking off in the direction of her trail. Miyuki followed close behind. Feeling the frigid weather begin to cool even more as night crept on them, he jumped in front of her and quickly heaved her onto his back, not wanting her to step in the snow. She snuggled closer to him, the cold burning the tip of her nose. She became lost in his scent, and her mind was reeling into flashbacks of their youth. His hair wrapped around her face, almost forming a scarf to shield her from the icy wind. She pulled herself closer to him, trying to give him some of her warmth in return. He shifted his eyes to her for a split second, but continued forward.

The trail ended quickly, and they were both left stumped. The ocean waves crashed against the shore and Kagome's foot steps stopped abruptly at the shoreline.

"Oh no. Where did she go?" Miyuki asked to the waves. They splashed against some jagged rocks, thundering their reply.

"Miyuki," Hiro whispered. "Run." Suddenly, three dark tentacles sprung from the waves and pierced Hiro's body. Miyuki collapsed on the snow with a thud, screaming as Hiro dropped to the ground, the snow turning red.