Chapter 36

Izuma finished washing the remains of the conditioner out of her hair. The stars of the night sky shined their reflections upon the water. They were her only light and she counted on them. She got dressed into a pair of her pajamas, collected her things and began her long trek down the mountain.

As she caught sight of the village, a cold wind blew hair into her face, blocking her vision. When she stopped to try to clear it, an even stronger gust knocked her backward. She tried to steady but lost her footing and fell. She plummeted through the trees, branches scratching her body. As she braced herself for the impact, she felt boney arms catch her as the ground was only a few feet away and place a sweaty hand over her mouth. She caught sight of long black hair and green kimono but passed out from shock.

Kagome walked through the village, Inuyasha at her side. It was getting late and Izuma wasn't back yet. It was beginning to worry Kagome greatly.

"Inuyasha, do you think we should go look for Izuma? It's getting really late." she asked.

"Keh, I think the kid can take care of herself, but if you want to." he said.

"Nah, your right. I just hope she's back soon." she said.

They both looked up with interest as Shippo sprinted up to them. He was out of breath, like he had just ran a race. "Phew, glad I found you guys." he rasped, putting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

"Shippo, are you alright?" Kagome asked touching his shoulder.

"Izuma was supposed to meet me a few hours ago, I can't find her." he responded.

"What? Where is she?" Inuyasha asked his eyes hardening.

"If I knew would I be asking?" he snapped with an irritated glare.

"Alright, let's go find her. Go get Miroku and Sango, me and Inuyasha will go on ahead." Kagome said taking his hand as Shippo ran off in the other direction. "C'mon Inuyasha, let's go get my arrows." she said. As she started to walk, Inuyasha stood in place. "What's wrong Inuyasha? Are you okay?" she asked.

The half demon gave her a stern look. "There is no way you're fighting with our pup in there." he said pointing at her stomach.

"Inuyasha, I can handle it." she said trying to get her hand free.

"Feh, whatever, but if you get hurt I'll …" he said.

She ran her hand over his shoulder. "You'll what?" she asked.

He gulped as her hands skimmed over a sensitive spot on his neck. "Uhn … fine." he said.

"Okay then, hurry up." she said tugging his planted feet along.

Izuma opened her eyes and stared at her surroundings. The stench of what smelled like rotting meat and … wolf caught her nose. Her mouth had been gagged and her hands and feet tied. She heard the sound of rushing water behind her as she struggled to sit up. Her wrist was broken; she could see the bone sticking out of it in an odd way. She was sitting on the nest of hay her mom and she had been put on when that wolf Koga had kidnapped them. Tons of fresh demon carcasses with the flesh still on them sat around her. Flies swarmed around them, feasting on and laying eggs in their bodies. The smell made her gag and she tried not to vomit. A water fall ran over the entrance of the cave she was in. She was the only soul in it, but she knew she wasn't alone … she was back in the wolf tribe.

Inuyasha darted in and out of the trees, carrying Kagome on his back as usual. It was kind of awkward for her to get a good position on him because of her stomach. She had to keep moving around as he ran and Inuyasha was afraid she would fall off.

"Would you hold still?" he asked with a yell.

"Sorry Inuyasha, it's hard to get comfortable, with my belly and all. Can you smell Izuma?" she asked giving him sheepish smile.

"No, not a damn thing, let alone her." he growled.

"Hey you guys! I found something, C'mon!" Shippo yelled from up ahead.

Inuyasha sprinted up the path to the fox demon in the middle of the road. In his hand he held what looked like one of her bath bottles. It was red, about the size of a can of soda and smelled like flowers. He stared at it in wonder as Inuyasha skidded to a stop in front of him.

Inuyasha grabbed it from Shippo and passed it to Kagome. "What is it?" he asked.

"It's strawberry lotion, I bought it for her before we came here." Kagome said opening the lid and sniffed its contents.

"What's lotion?" Inuyasha and Shippo asked simultaneously.

"Stuff people in my time use to keep their hands soft." she explained, and then she noticed something. All around them, the ground was littered with Izuma's bath supplies. Her hair brush, soap, everything in her bathroom it seemed. Her two male companions followed her gaze and their eyes widened. Kagome had the oddest urge to look up, like she was being controlled. Something bright drew her stare and she gasped; Izuma's little blue bag. It hung from a tree branch deep in a tree, swaying in the night breeze. "Guys, look." she said nodding upward.

Inuyasha gathered her in his arms and jumped to the rock ledge where the tree sat. He un-hooked it from the branch and looked it over, Izuma's scent covered it. He brought it to his nose and inhaled deeply, catching her scent. He growled in frustration when he didn't smell it in the air. It was like it had been wiped to keep anyone from following. He did smell on scent though. It wasn't a forest scent, not even close. It was a cold, dusty smell … like death. It made a chill down his spine. Where was his pup?