Chapter 38

Taken

Kagome placed a hand on the bars of the carriage, looking out as the thing bumped along the road. Natsuki continued to whimper in her arms, and she tried her best to soothe her pup, but not really succeeding. Her own aura was in turmoil…and afraid.

She had been walking alone in her private gardens when she was suddenly bombarded by people she had never seen before. They wore cloths over their faces, but she knew they were from the East. She had attempted to fight with her reiki but nothing had happened, and she cursed Kikyou in that moment.

While holding her daughter, and not carrying her weapons, she could do nothing but accept defeat as she was surrounded, and the males roughly grabbed her and carried her off. She hadn't even had time to scream. They only stopped when they had come across the carriage she now sat in before throwing her in.

She had protected her pup in the tumble and hit her head relatively hard. For some time, she wasn't sure just how long, she had been unconscious. She had woken to her pup wailing in her arms, and she did what she could to calm her.

Now, she looked out at lands that she wasn't familiar with. She wasn't in the West, but she wasn't in the East either. She had no idea where she was, and that thought terrified her. She had tried finding her mate through their bond but she was too far away, and what once used to be a constant reminder was now a dull thrum.

Even shooting her aura out didn't work. She felt no one other than the people she was currently surrounded by. She was alone with her infant daughter, weak and helpless. There was nothing she could do.

She pushed herself away from the bars and leaned against a corner. She brought her knees up slightly and rested her pup on them, trying to calm her again. Her thoughts were on Natsuki. She knew that, soon, her pup would be hungry. Only, she had no way to feed her daughter, and now, she felt like a horrible mother.

A failure to the West and a pathetic excuse for a mom.

That's all she was.

Before her thoughts could fall further into despair, the carriage came to an abrupt stop, making her reach out to grab the flat wall as best she could. It was silent for a moment before she could hear shouting and the clanging of swords.

She looked out the tiny window of bars on the side of the box she was being held in and was surprised to see three yellow waves of energy barreling towards the guards surrounding her and obliterating them.

She sat back, eyes wide, when the barred door was torn from its hinges, revealing a face she never wanted to see again. Golden eyes looked her over, and she clutched Natsuki closer to her chest as he jumped into the carriage.

"Let's go, Wench!" InuYasha ordered, holding out a hand to her.

"You expect me to go with you?!" She asked, her voice high-pitched with her shock.

InuYasha's ears twitched as voices of the Eastern army approaching hit his ears. He had hoped to convince the woman to come with him willingly, but he didn't have time for that. Instead, he quickly grabbed her in his arms and jumped from the damn carriage, his feet breaking into a run the moment they touched the ground.

At least she isn't screaming.

Kagome was too shocked to even scream. She wasn't sure what InuYasha had planned for her, but all she knew was he was running in the direction they had left. Was he taking her home…or back to the East?

"Please, put me down." Kagome begged, fear beginning to rise in her. The last time he got ahold of her were memories she never wanted to see again…let alone experience.

InuYasha could smell her fear and he cursed himself for it. He never should have done what he did to her. He knew he was in the wrong now, but the damage was done. She would never trust him again, nor would he gain her forgiveness.

"I'm not putting you down until I know we have lost those fuckers." InuYasha replied, looking down and, for the first time, catching sight of the pup.

When Kagome noticed where his eyes had gone, she tightened her grip around Natsuki, causing his eyes to meet hers. She saw something then. Something she never thought she would see.

Regret.

"I won't hurt her." InuYasha assured.

"You killed Shippo." Kagome countered, eyes narrowing as he growled lowly to himself.

"Yea, I know. I know I've done nothing but fuck up, and there is no excuse for that. I won't even apologize because I know you can never accept it." InuYasha murmured, jumping into a tree and beginning to hop from branch to branch, trying to stay out of sight.

Once again, Kagome was shocked. This was an InuYasha she never even knew. Somehow, he had changed, and she wasn't sure if she was worried or happy. "What happened to you?"

"Keh! Let's just say having everything you ever wanted snatched away as a punishment because you're a sick fucker tends to open your eyes. Kikyou wanted that damn snake over me. You left me, with good reason. I was kicked out of the West once again because I deserved it. I literally have nothing left but a stupid sword and a silent promise." InuYasha replied.

Kagome looked down at his hip, eyes widening as she realized just what sword he was carrying. She knew, if he was calling it stupid, that he had no idea just what he had. He may have learned of one of its attacks, and used it to save her, but she didn't trust him enough to tell him what exactly he was carrying.

Instead, she kept her mouth shut and went to the next topic. "Why did the East take me?"

"That's kinda my fault although, this time, by accident. Akihito received word that Ice Prick had declared war. He was going to march an entire army to your door, not letting you have a chance to prepare yourselves. I convinced him that the best way was to wait. That he needed to destroy Sesshomaru by killing you. I figured that the bastard would protect you so, even if that damn slimy snake planned something, you would be fine. I guess I was wrong."

At this, more of InuYasha's words came filtering back through her mind, and she looked up at him again. "What silent promise did you make?"

"To protect you whenever he can't. I know that you belong to him. I know that I will never be in your good graces again, but I can't let anything happen to you." InuYasha admitted, jumping back to the ground.

"Why? We haven't even talked civilly in over a hundred years." Kagome pointed out, not expecting the answer she got, or the intensity of his eyes.

"Because, Kagome, I love you, and nothing will change that." InuYasha replied, staring into her eyes.

He should have been paying attention to the forest floor for, if he had, he would have noticed the trap. The moment his feet touched the rope, they were being pulled into the air. He immediately wrapped his body around Kagome and the pup, protecting them from whatever had caught them.

When they opened their eyes, they were looking at people they had never seen before. They didn't belong to the East or the West. Simultaneously, they both wondered just what trouble they were in now.

Sesshomaru looked down at the ookami, loving the way he seemed to squirm under his superior gaze. He had questions for the wolfling, and it was time they were answered.

"Tell me, Wolf, why were you willing to aid the West in this war?" He asked, watching as Kouga relaxed slightly.

"I'm sure you remember Lord Goru?" Kouga started, waiting for Sesshomaru's nod. "Well, he's my father."

"Your father is the late Lord of the East?" Sesshomaru asked.

He didn't have many memories of the lord. He was still a pup when news of his defeat went throughout all of the lands. At the time, Lord Akihito was respected for his victory. It was the way of yokai. Survival of the fittest. Soon, it became apparent that the new lord was not what they all thought him to be.

However, if Kouga was speaking the truth, he was the HHHfeir to the East, the rightful lord to the throne.

"Yea. When he attacked with all of his snakes, he caught the East off guard. There was no warning. To keep me and my mother safe, my old man sent us away. He told us he would send for us when the battle was over…only, he never did." Kouga explained, looking away as he went deep in thought. "I planned on getting revenge for my father, and mother who died of heartbreak. Only, I needed to come of age first. I met Kagome just after I came of age, and I fell in love quickly. I planned on making her my mate and future Eastern Lady, but she ran when I told her this. When I heard that she had become your mate instead, and that a war was brewing between you and the East, I knew this was my chance to get my throne back. You, alone, I would have never approached, but I knew there was enough history between us that Kagome would give me a chance."

Ignoring the part about another male loving his female, Sesshomaru nodded as he took in the wolf's plan. "So, when the war is succeeded, you wish to take back your father's throne."

Kouga nodded in agreement before continuing. "It is my hope that you won't fight me on this. If you allow me to have my lands back, we will have an alliance that lasts longer than just this war. The East will be in debt to the West until that debt is paid."

Sesshomaru thought for a moment and finally had to admit that letting the wolf deal with the East was better than taking on the role himself. "Agreed. When the war is won, you can have your lands."

Before Kouga could say anything else, he felt sudden panic from his mate and he was gone instantly, not surprisingly, Sesshomaru on his heels, curiosity rolling off of him. That is until Kouga burst into the lord's private gardens to see his mate sitting on her knees and looking at the ground in horror.

"Where is my mate?" Sesshomaru snarled, knowing that this was where he had left Kagome.

"I don't know. She told me to meet her here around this time. At first, I just thought she had left, but look…" Ayame whispered, pointing to the ground.

Both Kouga and Sesshomaru followed the direction of her finger to see many footprints, all male in size. It was clear to see that they surrounded the only feminine pair in the snow. It was also easy to see the fight Kagome had put up before ultimately losing.

At the realization that his mate had been captured, Sesshomaru threw his head back and let out a deafening roar. Both Kouga and Ayame were forced to cover their ears as they watched the lord begin to lose control of his youki.

His silver hair was now floating around him as his energy began to swirl in a vortex of pure power. His eyes had bled so red, his irises were now a shocking blue. His markings were now so jagged on his face, they almost seemed as if they were lightning bolts.

To make matters worse, a guard chose that moment to come in and announce that the Daughter of the West was missing as well. The sheer amount of power that exploded out of the Western Lord sent both Kouga and Ayame flying through the air, landing on the other side of the gardens. The guard wasn't so lucky and slammed into a wall, sliding down as he fell onto the floor, unconscious.

Kouga knew, if he didn't find some way to calm down the most powerful being in the lands, there would be no more West. Already, his youki seemed to be creating a tornado, the very angry male in the center of it.

"Dad!" Youta yelled, running into the gardens with his grandfather and brother. All of them were forced to put their hands out in front of them as the winds of the vortex their lord created began to batter against them.

Touga had never seen his son like this, and he instantly knew what had happened. Sesshomaru and Kagome had such a strong bond, and learning that his mate was missing had sent the most controlled demon into a fury.

"Son, listen to me!" Touga shouted, hoping that his voice could be heard over the roaring winds. "Kagome is not some weak female! She is strong enough to survive until we find her! But we need you to do so! If you don't calm down, we have no hope! Your mate needs you, Son!"

"Come on, Dad! We need to find Mom and we need you!" Youta yelled, grabbing a tree for support as Touga's words went unheard.

Kouga just watched, his arms around his mate protectively, as everyone tried to ease their lord back into control. He knew better than that. Nice was not going to work this time. So, helping his mate to a tree so she could hold on, he braced himself against the winds and began to approach the only person he was afraid of.

"You are the Lord of the West! You should have more control than this!" Kouga shouted, finally getting a reaction from the lord as red eyes turned towards him. "If she dies, it will be on your claws! You could be tracking the ones who took her! Instead, you're throwing a damn fit! Get yourself together and find your mate!"

For a moment, Kouga thought he was going to die. Red eyes stared into his soul, and he could have sworn he felt his insides beginning to burn. It wasn't until the winds finally began to lessen, and eventually die down, that he realized he had gotten through to the lord.

"Kouga, you will send your wolves on a hunt. They are to bring me back my mate and daughter and kill all who are responsible for their capture." Sesshomaru ordered as if he hadn't just lost control and very nearly destroyed his shiro and lands.

Kouga could only nod and watch as Sesshomaru walked away calmly. He was suddenly very glad he was not on the East's side because that display of power would be enough to send anybody running…and any who didn't would regret it.

-sSs-

Damn East getting into things they shouldn't be. If only they would leave everything alone. Oh well, it wouldn't be war then, would it? Don't worry, they won't be separated for long. I wouldn't do that to you all. I hope you all enjoy.

Shout outs:

Wren210: I believe it was an eye opener for the boys. Lol. I would imagine that almost all females would imagine the guys and their punishment every time they think of them. Lol. I also really liked the end of your review. It made me laugh.

Redrake323: I'm glad you liked the chapter, thanks for leaving a review.

LazuriteSix: Dang you left a lot of reviews, and I thank you for them. I'm going to try my best to reply to all of them.

It's okay, at least your back to reading now. Lol. And after InuYasha lost everything, he basically had to open his eyes.

Well, remember that the west is quite large, and Sesshomaru is having to patrol his lands quite often because of this. He might not always notice someone is there. Plus demons can hide their aura's so, it is actually easy for them to hide.

I'm not going to make Natsuki disappear, which I'm sure you have figured out. The chapters just won't revolve around her. I'll still mention her quite often.

Yea, he does have a big mouth, but oh well. It's done. I haven't yet posted the chapter about Youta and Sesshomaru having to help him control himself, but it will be up there soon.

Everybody liked the guard. Lol.

To this point no, but they have learned their lesson and will calm down a bit now.

Yes, but what woman doesn't overreact at times. Lol. I'm glad you're caught up.

LoveInTheBattleField: Thank you for your review, I am glad that you liked my story.

I do not own InuYasha.