InuYasha could feel her panic rising, the sickness swelling as he flew with Sesshomaru. "We will make it, Kagome. Breathe for me saiai, breathe deep." He flared his aura making his brother grunt and almost drop him as he forced youki down the bond, felt it swell in her center and wash away her sickness. She was wrapped around Kemuri and he was grateful she had the hound. "Sorry, her alpha is… we need to hurry."

Even moving with Sesshomaru this way it would take time to get there. Took most of a morning to walk with Miroku. When the village finally came into view, shock resonated. The village was almost destroyed, fires smoldered still, and people were huddled together in the center of the small town. They landed on the outskirts and walked through the damage. It was quiet, unsettlingly so, and the brother's shared a wary glance. Reaching the village square they heard someone scream "Youkai!" causing others to scream as well.

InuYasha growled and leapt onto the edge of the well. Snarling loudly he said, "SHUT UP!" in his alpha voice and silence fell. "I'm InuYasha you fools, I travel here with the Buddhist monk Miroku and many of you know me! This is my brother, the Lord Sesshomaru. Chika-san came to us for help finding your missing children. Where is the headman of this village?"

A man pushed forward from the back of the crowd. "InuYasha-sama! Thank the kami!" It was the merchant he dealt with for Hiro. Jumping down, he moved swiftly towards Satoshi.

Sesshomaru was impressed with how well InuYasha handled the humans. He had a natural ability to assess and take control of the situation, another gift from their father, and the daiyoukai stayed quiet and let his brother do so, following behind with the slow languid grace and cold mask he was known for.

"Satoshi. Where is your headman?" This was taking too long, they needed to find the children before his mate's worries became reality.

"He went after his daughters!" Satoshi had never been so glad to see the hanyou before.

"Which way? And who else has children missing?" Two more men detached themselves from the crowd.

"My child is missing, Aiko." The man was unfamiliar to InuYasha but he nodded. "Moriko is my daughter, she's only eight." The second man was a merchant that Miroku often dealt with but the man's name escaped him.

"Both of you go home and get us something of your daughters that would carry their scent. Blankets, stuffed toys, unwashed clothing, something just they would use." Unsure how easy it would be to follow the bandits trail, he requested the scent items just to be safe. "The headman's wife, where is she?" He looked across the crowd but no one came forward.

Satoshi lowered his eyes. "She was... brutalized and then killed during the raid, while Shin-sama fought with the guard. That's how they managed to take both of his daughters, Ai and Eri." He shook his head at the horror of the past night.

"Kagome… Chika's daughter…" He felt her sorrow for the old woman. "Find them my mate, hurry." She was holding on but it was getting harder. "Someone get me something of the headman's that would hold his scent. NOW!" People scattered and returned quickly with what he'd asked for. Rejecting things that carried dual scents, they finally brought him the headman's ceremonial robe and though the scent was faded it held only one pure scent. He inhaled hard then handed it to Sesshomaru who repeated the action. The fathers of the missing girls returned with their daughter's bedding and they memorized those scents as well. "Which way did they ride out?" Everyone pointed north.

Turning together, InuYasha and Sesshomaru ran for the edge of the village, found the trail of the horses and picking up the pace, raced for the trees. The trail was almost too easy to follow and when he scented the air, he caught the headman's trace as well as one of the girls. They raced on, covering leagues with their demon speed only slowing when the feeling of being watched got stronger. Growling as they continued deeper into the forest InuYasha spoke in Inu to his brother, "This feels wrong." feeling eyes on them from higher in the trees as they slowed their pace.

"Hn. They are watching from the trees. Clearing ahead." Sesshomaru replied softly in the same way. "It is a trap but a poor one." He could smell the filthy humans. "So disappointing." Then a girl screamed and a man roared in anguish.

They moved quickly forward, keeping an ear on the men in the trees as they stepped cautiously to the treeline. InuYasha had to grab Sesshomaru's arm to keep him from rushing the clearing. There were ten men surrounding the four girls, all between eight and twelve years of age, that were staked naked to the ground with a man just moving to fondle or in some way touch each child. The laughing, jeering insults of the bandits were horrendous as many of them removed their clothing. The headman was tied to a tree with a perfect few to watch the violation of his daughters. "Tree's or clearing?" InuYasha's demon had emerged, so incised by what was about to happen, and when Sesshomaru turned to him, his marks had taken on a jagged edge, his own demon riding him hard.

"You were always the one to like trees little brother." With a snarl he leapt straight up, coming down to land in the center of the four little female's, staked out in a circle with their heads in the middle, there was just enough space for him to land. Three of the children screamed and the mostly naked men stumbled backwards. "Close your eyes. You do not wish to witness what happens next." He hissed, not wanting them to be even more traumatised. The three who screamed did as he asked but the fourth turned burning, angry blue eyes to his. She had been there longer than the others as her bruises, mostly on her chest and legs, could attest to.

"Make them hurt." She hissed at him. She had been staked out first and had been groped repeatedly. Her anger though was for her three friends, all younger than her and terrified. The bandits had been taunting them for hours, explaining in detail what was about to happen to them and when they'd tried to take Ai, she'd fought and ended up staked out in her place.

The dark haired female was strong and it moved him. Snarling he brought forth his poison whip and removed the manhood of the filth that had been touching her. The scream was satisfying and he smirked. "Does that appease you, sukoshi sentoki (little fighter)?" Her wicked smile could have graced the face of a youkai. Sending the whip out once more, he sliced throats and forced men back. Quickly releasing the little female, he pulled his sash off, placing Bakusaiga and Tenseiga on the ground, and gave it to her. "Free the others." Rising from the ground he let his snarl roll and his demon roared in excitement when his prey ran. Sesshomaru did not need his swords for what was to come. None escaped him and none made the trees.

InuYasha watched his brother land and leapt for the nearest tree. He never liked killing humans, hated it, but in this instance he was making an exception. That these men were willing to violate children… he couldn't have held his demon back if he wanted to. The bandit in it yelped and swung his crossbow towards him. InuYasha's claws took his throat as he went by and he fell with a crash to the ground. He moved fast. It had been a trap set for them but as Sesshomaru said, it was a poor one. Though, had he come alone, it would have been much more difficult to save the girls and protect himself. Another bandit fell as he made the circuit. An arrow thunked into the tree behind him and he snarled, catching the next as it flew for his heart he flipped it and whipped it back at the bandit across the clearing farthest from him and the man fell.

The next bandit swung his sword at him from behind the tree and if he hadn't smelt so bad it might have worked. Ducking the blade, he rammed his vambrace into this one's temple. They needed one alive and he knew Sesshomaru wouldn't leave any of his for questioning. He took out the branch another stood on, the bandit screaming as he fell. The sound ended abruptly as he hit the ground. The last two were turning to climb down and run when he caught them, his demon roaring at the chance to chase his prey.

He kept these two alive and awake, tossing them out of the trees and into the clearing. "Don't move." He snarled at them and went to release the headman. "Chika-san sent me." His demon had receded, having worked off some of its rage, so he wasn't quite so formidable looking as he sliced through the man's bindings. InuYasha felt them coming and sighed, spinning he punched one as Sesshomaru snapped the other's neck.

"Little brother, you know better than to turn your back on filth like these." Sesshomaru shook his head but smirked a twitch of his lips.

"Feh. We need one at least and you sure weren't leaving any alive." He grinned. The headman finished freeing himself and scrambled towards his daughters. The girl wearing Sesshomaru's sash was not one of them, and InuYasha smirked at his brother who only shrugged slightly.

"She was not scared. She hissed like an angry Inu to make them hurt. The sukoshi sentoki reminded me of Kagome." He spoke softly to his brother. The little brave one had found the kimono of the other girls and had them dressed and ready to go home. She shrugged her own clothing on and pulled his sash out from under her kimono before using the silk to pick up his swords, one held an odd pulse and she knew better than to touch a demonic weapon. Walking towards them she glanced from InuYasha back to him.

"Thank you great lord." Bowing she held out the sash with the swords resting on it to Sesshomaru. When he took them, she straightened and look all the way up to his face. 'Kami he is tall!' His golden eyes glittered softly and they made her smile. "May I have your name great lord? I wish to ask the Kami to bless the one who rescued me." He was so pretty and she wondered if his fur was as soft as it looked.

Rewrapping his sash, Sesshomaru tucked his swords back into it. Crouching down so he was eye level he studied her closely. He could tell by scent that the worst that had befallen the little female was the bruising and that she had not been violated further, none of them had. "Sesshomaru is this one's name sukoshi sentoki. Lord of the Western Lands. My brother InuYasha." He waved his hand towards InuYasha, whose far off look indicated he was speaking with Kagome. "And your name?" She was so like his Imouto in her bravery, not even a touch of fear's scent did she carry.

"I am Aiko." Her face twisted a little at the name.

"Do you not like your name then?" He wanted to chuckle, the little female was intriguing. Sighing she shook her head. "What would you prefer than?" Her blue eyes sparkled into his.

"Mizuki. I wish to be a miko when I grow up. Though I will only fight bad youkai not good ones like you two. I will be like Kagome-sama! She was a lovely miko… I wish I knew what happened to her…" Some of her favorite stories were about the miko Kagome but the lady had disappeared three years ago and no one knew why.

Sesshomaru smirked, couldn't seem to help it. "Do you see my brother Mizuki?" She nodded, pleased that he would use the name she wished to have and Sesshomaru couldn't see the harm in making her happy, "The Lady Kagome is his tsuma."

She squealed, "Really?!" and spun to face InuYasha. "You are married to Kagome-sama?" She bounced from foot to foot in excitement.

"Keh, she is my mate, my tsuma." He chuckled a little at the excited child. "We need to get done here so I can get back to her." Ear flicking, he leapt towards the forest and pulled the bandit he smacked with his vambrace out of the underbrush. "Awake are yah?" The bandit's eyes widened right before he chucked him into the clearing. "Shin-sama, take the girls and go home."

The headman bowed low to the two Inu. "Lord InuYasha, Lord Sesshomaru, I am in your debt. All will hear of what you have done here today. Thank you, thank you."

Sesshomaru frowned, "Human, you will say nothing until this Sesshomaru gives you permission." They needed to find the cause of all this first. Looking into Aiko's eyes he said, "That goes for you and the other children. No one must know what happened here today. Not yet."

"As you wish Lord Sesshomaru." If he had to return to the village she would get to see him again. He was nice and would be a good youkai to know if she succeeded in becoming a miko, he knew Kagome-sama after all. She ran to join the others and waved to the two Inu as she followed the headman into the forest.

"You seem to collect little followers, Jaken, Rin, now this one." InuYasha chuckled as he teased his brother.

"Hn, she turned her attention to you fast enough when your mate was mentioned Lord InuYasha." Smirking, his hand flicked out and he used his whip to drop the bandit that was running for the trees, this one was the one InuYasha had punched and he had apparently regained consciousness. "Pay attention little brother." Striding towards the pleading bandit Sesshomaru picked him up by his collar and tossed him at InuYasha.

Deflecting the flying human, InuYasha had him land hard on the ground beside the other one. "Someone start talking. Who sent you?"

The one man sneered openly at them. "Youkai filth! I will tell you nothing!" He hated youkai, always thinking they were so much better than humans and spat at the one in red but it moved out of the way.

"This Sesshomaru thinks you hit him to hard brother. You knocked all sense out of him with your vambrace." Raising his hand he let his poison drip from his claws onto the man's thigh. The screaming satisfied his demon and made it purr happily.

"Talk or join him." InuYasha wasn't one for torture but Sesshomaru could get results. He'd calmed Kagome with the assurance that they'd rescued the girls but he still felt that itch and wanted to get done, get back to his mate and their pup.

The other bandit was blubbering in fear, the scent so strong it made his nose wrinkle. "We got told to raid the village and take some girls. He said it would draw you here. It'd be easy to set the ambush and kill you." He scooted farther away from Seji. He'd gone from screaming to moaning and the smell of the poison eating the other man's flesh made him want to vomit.

InuYasha snarled, "Who? Who said it would be easy?" He grabbed the man by his collar and shook him.

"The boss! The boss got paid! We got told to kill you and he went for the woman." He hung limp, brain rattled from the shaking as he cried in fear and pain.

InuYasha's blood froze as fear slammed through him. In his deadly alpha voice he demanded, "What woman?" Hand sliding from the bandit's collar to his throat as his claws lengthened and dug in.

Jun looked into the hanyou's eyes and screamed as he saw his own death. "NO! Don't kill me! I'll tell you! The miko, he went for the miko, the one that defeated Naraku!"

InuYasha dropped him as he stepped in the direction of his village. "No." He was running before he even realized he'd moved. "KAGOME! They are coming for you my mate!"

Her fear hit him and made him stumble, slow enough for Sesshomaru to catch up. Sesshomaru's own blood had iced at the words, InuYasha was gone before he could move and as he ran to chase down his brother, his whip lashed out behind him and the last two bandit's heads rolled. The predators had already begun to gather for the carrion and he left them to their feast.

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Kagome stayed wrapped around Kemuri. His rumble didn't feed her youki like InuYasha's but it was soothing enough to keep her steady. It felt like forever before he made it to the village and when he did she gasped. "The village is practically destroyed! Even some of the houses are still smoldering." Sango grasped her hand and held tight.

She touched InuYasha often, listened in pride as he handled the villagers. Smiling softly as she leaned against Kemuri, she related what he was saying. He really was amazing, had stepped in and taken charge of the situation. "Kagome… Chika's daughter…" Her sorrow for the old woman flowed into her mate. "Find them my mate, hurry." He needed to reach them soon. Instincts screaming, she squeezed Kemuri a little tighter, the voice in her head was getting louder.

They were heading for the clearing when Sango stood up. "Kagome I…" She didn't want to leave her but she needed to feed Ichiro.

"Sango, of course you need to go." Kagome waved her friend out the door. "Take your time, we are fine." Grabbing Hiraikotsu, Sango smiled in relief and headed for Kimi's. "Miroku…" Reaching out Kagome grabbed the monk's hand. "I'm not that fine."

Miroku held her hand in both of his and began to recite the Heart Sutra for her. He'd seen InuYasha do something similar, help to shift her focus, though he didn't think she'd appreciate it if he did what her mate did and nuzzle at her neck. He continued chanting for her, watching her take slow deep breaths, keeping steady but not calming down much.

Kaede had returned and was preparing lunch, watching her apprentice hold onto Miroku and her hound like her life depended on it. Or perhaps someone else's life.

They'd reached the clearing and Kagome heard the scream echo through InuYasha and stayed very still in his mind, saw what the men where in the process of starting and on a gasp, ripped herself away from him. His demon was emerging and covered her exit. "Oh kami! Be safe… be fast… be in time my mate." She didn't realized she was crying until Miroku handed her a handkerchief.

"Kagome… are you going to be ok?" Miroku was really worried about her. "This isn't good for you to be like this, not now."

"It's ok, they found them." She rocked a little and waited. Afraid to touch him as he fought, not wanting to distract him and have him end up hurt.

Kaede brought her a cup of tea. "Drink Kagome child. Ye need to calm down." Just an herbal tea she knew Kagome liked, not wanting to cause a panic in her mate by knocking her out, which is what she wanted to do. "Ye can't be this upset in ye's condition." Kagome's startled eyes hit hers. "I may be old Kagome child but I am not blind. Think ye I don't know why ye wear the fire rat robe?" She chuckled as Kagome blushed a little.

"I was going to tell you, than all of this happened and…" Her mind was quiet. The driving instincts had settled and she breathed a full breath. "It's done." Smiling, she felt him reach for her. "Kagome… its done saiai. The girls are all safe and mostly untouched, they'll be ok with time." His relief washed over her and she sent hers back. "I know, I felt it as soon as you'd finished. The voice quieted and my alpha calmed." She let her pride and the gratitude she felt slide down the bond to her mate.

"We gotta ask a few questions of these bakas but then we'll be coming home." His demon was pacing again and she touched them lightly, a drifting of reiki over their ears. "Careful my mate. Don't extend yourself." His concern flooded her but it had worked to settle him enough to get the rest done. "Just come home soon koi. I am waiting for you." Sighing in relief she smiled a wide grin at her friends. "They've got to question the men but will be back soon.

"Thank you both for staying with me!" She smiled brightly and scrubbed at Kemuri's ears making the hound groan. She giggled a little but her smile started fading as something scraped at her. Where was Sango? "Miroku, does it usually take this long for Sango to feed Ichiro?" Rising to her feet she stepped towards the door.

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Sango was headed back into the village towards Kimi's when Rin skipped up beside her. "Hello Rin-chan, were are you headed to today?" She kept a careful eye on the village as they walked, something felt wrong but she could quite find it and hefting her weapon she grasped it tighter.

"Rin thought she would see why you are in your armor Sango-oba?" It was rare to see the taijiya wear her demon slayer outfit and to be packing her Hiraikotsu was even stranger.

"InuYasha had to go to the market day village, some children are missing and Miroku and I are supposed to be with Kagome. We had to leave our children with Kimi-san and Shippo so I need to go back there to feed Ichiro." Glancing down, she had to smile at the girl that walked along beside her. Rin had a crown of flowers in her hair and was wearing a pretty purple kimono covered in birds, an obvious gift from Lord Sesshomaru.

"This Rin will come with you Sango-oba, she will play with the twins for you. Shippo is fun but he is not a girl." She giggled and tugged on Sango's hand encouraging her to lean down. "Here oba, Rin only has one and the twins will argue over it." Taking off her flower crown she placed it on Sango's head.

Sango laughed at the sight she must make, dressed in armor and packing Hiraikotsu, wearing a colourful flower crown. "If you like Rin, I'm sure they would have fun with you." Still holding Rin's hand they walked into Kimi's yard.

The children were all in the house when they arrived and the girls were making quite a ruckus, Ichiro was just beginning to cry, and Shippo's tail was twice its normal size as he sat high in a rafter. "Sango! Make them stop pulling my tail!" Shippo hollered as he jumped down.

Kimi shook her head, feeling a little exasperated. "I'm sorry Sango-san, they have been like this for a while. While you are here, would it be all right if I take the girls outside?" She could use the break from all the bickering.

"Girls! You know better than that. Kimi-san I'm so sorry they are misbehaving! Wait till your Chichi-ue hears about this. Go outside with Kimi-san and behave for her and Rin-chan. She came to play but if you are going to be bad maybe she shouldn't stay." Sango frowned at her children as she picked up a fussy Ichiro. The girls gave her big sad eyes and mumbled apologies to both her and Kimi as the young woman herded them out the door with Rin tsk-ing along behind.

"Rin will not stay to play nice games if you do not behave Mika and Aya." Rin scolded the girls a little as they went into the yard making Sango giggle softly. Rin was a sweet girl and always such a big help.

As Sango moved to sit and feed her son, Shippo turned his back to give her privacy but stayed in the room with her. "Sango… how is Kagome?" He was worried about her especially with InuYasha and Lord Sesshomaru being gone. After the other night when InuYasha had left him with the daiyoukai he had discovered that Rin was correct. The lord was not nearly as scary as he had always thought, although he was sure he could be if he wanted too. They had taken care of the food and even though he had been nervous, Lord Sesshomaru had stayed quiet, listening to InuYasha yell at Kagome until they had stopped talking, out loud at least. The daiyoukai had turned his cold eyes on Shippo but had only taken over the cooking and out of curiosity Shippo had found some courage and asked 'If the youkai never ate, how did he know how to cook?' his reply when it came had startled the fox demon. Lord Sesshomaru did in fact eat, he just did it privately. Shippo had wanted to ask why but had chickened out.

"She's doing all right Shippo but I hope InuYasha gets back soon." Even though Kagome had told her she was fine, Sango could tell her friend was not. Kagome was only just holding it together. "They had just reached a clearing when I had to come here. Did InuYasha ask you to stay with the children Shippo?" When his tail fluffed up and he hunched a little, she knew she was right. "It's fine Shippo. I'm glad you're here with them." She'd seen the little kitsune do some amazing things with his magic and understood the hanyou's desire to have him stay and protect her children. The fact that InuYasha would ask it of Shippo showed the depth of his feelings and reinforced to her the place her family held in his 'pack'.

Finished feeding Ichiro, Sango had just gotten her clothing refastened when she heard the horse's pound into the village and her girls scream. Thrusting Ichiro at Shippo she hollered, "Run!" and watched him disappear out the back of the house. Turning she ran for the front door as her daughters cried out in fear and Kimi's outraged voice was cut off with a sharp slap. Hitting the door with Hiraikotsu over her shoulder she saw two men drag her children towards their horses, and another grab Rin by the arm. Kimi was sitting in the dirt and holding her quickly swelling cheek. "What the hell are you doing with my children?"

Stepping through the door, Sango prepared to rescue her girls only to have something hard hit her in the back of her head. As she crashed to the ground, Hiraikotsu landing heavily on top of her, she heard her daughters scream and Rin cry out, stating firmly that they would regret touching her once her Lord arrived, Sango's world went black as her colorful flower crown turned red with her blood.

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Kemuri dashed in front of her and snarled hard, the scent that the alpha had warned him about was heavy on the air. There was screaming followed by the sudden pounding of hoof beats racing down the road, coming to a stop outside Kaede's hut. Miroku stepped in front of Kagome and nudged her away from the door. A voice from outside yelled, "We have come for the miko Kagome! Send her out or we will burn this village to the ground! We will kill everyone and take her anyway starting with these three!" Two little voices cried out for Kagome-oba and their Chichi-ue and one more hollered for Lord Sesshomaru.

"NO!" Miroku raced outside in horror. They had his children!

"KAGOME! They are coming for you my mate!" InuYasha's scream echoed in her mind.

Kagome shuddered in fear and felt him stumble. "InuYasha! They're already here and they have Rin and the twins!" They wanted her but would hurt the girls to get to her. "I have to go with them."

"You will not! Don't do this Kagome!" His heart wrenched and made hers hurt in response.

"LISTEN! I will go. You will follow, you will find me. We need to know what this is about, who is behind it. I will go and I won't do anything stupid. They don't want me dead but they will hurt the girls!" Kemuri was shoving at her and growling. "Listen to me Kemuri, I have to go but you will be my shadow. Follow the horses, stay out of sight and if things go wrong, I will run and you can protect me. You must stay hidden until the right moment. They will hurt the girls!" She was already moving towards the door when he nudged her once more. "Onegai! I've told InuYasha and he's coming with Sesshomaru." Kagome grasped his muzzle gently. "I can't let them hurt the twins or Rin, I will never forgive myself! Be my shadow, follow and protect if and when I need you." Her eyes gleamed gold and the hound whined but relented.

"Kagome child… ye can't!" Kaede reached out imploringly, grasping her elbow.

"I have to Kaede-sama… you know I do." Pulling gently away she ducked through the reed mat door.

"Kami dammit Kagome! You'd better be unharmed when I find you!" His demon roared at her as she stepped outside.

There were at least thirty men outside the hut, all of them on horseback. Two stood beside their animals holding the twins by their arms and one had Rin by the hair over the back of a horse. So many men, they'd easily subdued the village guard. Kagome didn't see Sango anywhere and it worried her. InuYasha, a shadow inside her, saw what she did and she felt the seething anger building. "I am Kagome. Release the girls and I will go with you."

The man in the middle sneered at her. "You don't look like no Miko. You ain't her. Where is she?" He nudged his horse closer. The obvious leader, he was dressed in leather armor closely resembling Koga's but the clothing beneath was of rough spun linen that belied his heritage as nothing more than a commoner who, most likely through cruelty, was aspiring to be more.

Miroku glared daggers at the man and gripped his staff tighter, surprised that it didn't just snap in half. "She is Kagome." InuYasha was going to skin him if he let Kagome go with these men but his daughters…

"She ain't no Miko I say. If you're her… prove it." He forced his horse closer yet. The animal was nervous about something and it was annoying him. Slapping his reigns against its hind quarters making it jump forward, he then wrenched hard on its mouth so it reared up in front of the woman but she didn't even flinch. 'Tough little bitch. May need a lesson in respect before tomorrow night.' He thought to himself, wondering how long she'd hold out before she screamed for him to stop.

"Fine, but only if you release Mika and Aya first." She snarled, eyes darkening and glittering with gold, Kagome had to resist the desire to crack her knuckles like her mate did. The twins were crying for Miroku and it was making her alpha crazy, her Inu instincts wanted to shred someone, protect her pack. Rin was holding up better and had obviously bitten her captor at least once. She was still trying to kick him, hence the hand in the hair and how she was half hanging off his horse. The man holding her was a big brut of a man, bald, with a deep scar under his left eye.

The leader waved his hand at his men and they came closer. "Prove it bitch or I will let my men slit their throats." He sneered at her as both men pulled long, sharp blades from their sides and pressed them to the twin's throats. Miroku's heart hit his knees and he turned desperate, pleading eyes on Kagome. It was the only time since Naraku's defeat that he wished he still had his wind tunnel.

Kaede appeared beside her with her own bow and arrows. Grabbing the bow, Kagome notched an arrow, called her reiki and firing at a tree on the edge of the woods, watch her rose colored arrow explode. Her anger raging, she'd twisted the blend of power together similar to when she and InuYasha had worked together to blend arrows and backlash waves. "Happy?" she handed the bow back to Kaede and felt the drain on her body. Trying not to show how badly her legs shook, she casually rested her hand on the edge of Kaede's door. InuYasha's youki slid into her hard and fast, making her clamp her hand around the doorway as it forcibly rebuilt her reiki. She kept her face passive and serene even though her muscles ached at the force he used and she had to clench her teeth to keep from groaning. That one had hurt a little.

The man smirked at her, "Very much so. Come along without a fuss and we'll release the little ones." He couldn't be bothered to pack the crying brats or the feisty one. He held out his hand to Kagome. She stepped forwards and he hauled her up in front of him till she sat side saddle and wrapped his arm tight around her but she didn't struggle or fight. "Let's go boys." Kagome watched as Mika and Aya ran for Miroku, the monk's eyes hit hers and she could see the guilt in them. Smiling at him, she tried to show it wasn't his fault, that she understood and that she was doing this willingly but his eyes filled as he hugged his girls and he couldn't hold her gaze. Her attention shifted when Rin snarled, sounding like an angry Inu, and the bandit holding her slapped her hard and dropped her from his horse into the dirt.

"That bastard is for Sesshomaru!" She would make sure of it. "Tell him to watch for the ugly, bald man, scar under the left eye, riding a pale horse."

"We are coming Kagome. Ask questions my mate. Do what you're good at and pester him." His fear was rampant, his demon raging but still he tried to make her smile.

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Sesshomaru had thrust them back into the air, moving towards the village. InuYasha had snarled but was otherwise having a silent conversation with Kagome. He concentrated on getting them back fast

"She's going with them." InuYasha snarled again, hands clenching into fists.

Sesshomaru felt his heart stutter. "She must not!"

"They've got the twins and Rin hostage, what choice does she have? She's going and I can't stop her!" He snapped at his brother.

Sesshomaru growled low, "And just where is her hound?"

"He's gonna follow." InuYasha thrust his hand over his ears. "She's got some plan to find out who's behind all this." It would be a great plan if it was anyone acting it out but his mate. He felt her pull her reiki in and fire the arrow. "Fuck! They made her prove she was the miko." The energy would drain from her quickly if he didn't do something. "Set us down."

"We are still too far." Sesshomaru kept going.

"I've got to rebuild her reiki or she'll pass out on us! Now set us down!" They landed hard. His aura pulsed, rising high and fast around him and he slid it down the bond, felt it pour inside his mate and forcibly rebuild the power she'd muscles clenched in discomfort but he didn't let up until her reiki lashed at him. With a grunt he pulled it back. "Done, she'll be good for a while as long as she doesn't have to do that again." Her reiki was protecting their pup and if it got to weak…

Sesshomaru thrust them skyward again and they continued their race for the village. "They released the girls. Kagome says you'll want the ugly, bald one, scar under the left eye, riding a pale horse… he hit Rin." Sesshomaru's demon roared and he snarled hard and loud. The human was dead!

"If she is going to go through with this plan of hers tell her to get on with it. Make her ask questions." He could feel the pulse under his skin, his demon wanted out into his true-form to run down their prey. 'Soon! Soon we will race through the forest and feel the blood run down our fangs!' Appeased only slightly, his demon backed off for the moment.

A few minutes later they dropped down on the edge of the village and were running through the streets when Sango stumbled out in front of them. InuYasha didn't stop, just lifted her and ran for Kaede's. "Inu… Yasha… the … twins." Her head fell back and she fainted. He could smell the blood that streaked her hair. Someone had caught Sango by surprise and cracked her a good one. Where was Shippo? Lifting his head he howled for the fox demon, his yipped answer came from Kaede's and they hit the door running, he slid in with Sango first, carefully setting her beside Rin. Sesshomaru hit the door and went for the girl, touching the swollen mark on her face gently.

Miroku was wrapped with his daughters and looked at InuYasha in shame and relief. "I'm so sorry InuYasha." Kagome had sacrificed herself to save his girls. He was so happy his daughters were safe and distraught that he couldn't do anything to keep his friends mate that way too. The girls had been so terrified, he hadn't even been able to leave them long enough to go find his wife. Shippo had managed to grab up Ichiro and run when Sango had thrust the infant at him and was sitting beside Miroku, worry evident. No one knew what had happened at Kimi's after Shippo had run and they would have to wait for Sango to tell the tale.

"Not your fault monk. She had no choice and neither did you." The whole situation was one fucked up mess and he needed to find his mate. "Which way?"

"Straight east." Miroku nodded towards that direction. "Her hound tore out after them shortly after they left." He'd seen the flash of silver flames as Kemuri had shifted. The hound had been huge and ferocious looking as it raced after Kagome.

Sesshomaru turned hard eyes on Kaede. "Miko?" Rin was sleeping deeply and he wanted an explanation.

"She fought them, the one who held her hit her hard and dropped her from his horse. Her face and leg pained her so I gave her some herbs to help her sleep. She will be fine with rest." Glad it wasn't worse, Kaede watched the daiyoukai's eyes flash red as he struggled to hold his form.

InuYasha was already gone, out the door and running hard for the edge of the village. The trail easy to follow as he reached for Kagome. They weren't even trying to cover their tracks.

000000000000000000000000000000000

As they rode out at a gallop, she found herself pressed firmly against the man's body and it made her skin crawl. His hand was tight to her, fingers digging into her ribs through the fire rat robe, making it uncomfortable to breathe. "You seem to know my name. May I have yours?" She faced forwards, watching for landmarks she could feed to InuYasha. So far they simply rode east into the forest, slowing once they hit the trees.

He chuckled behind her, "So polite miko. Resigned to your fate so easily then?" He liked how deferential she was after her attitude of earlier. Her scent wafted to his nose, the smell of lavender and vanilla was strong.

"Just making conversation. I have no idea where we are going or how long it will take to get there." She dug a little, hoping the leader's attitude towards women would lead him to let something slip as many men in this era viewed women as nothing but property. She kept her hands tucked in her sleeves, not wanting the thieves to see her ring and close to the gauntlet should she need it. The ring had pulsed once and slid a slow trickle of youki up her arm but stopped once InuYasha had rebuilt her reiki.

"Well then by all means Miko-sama, let me introduce myself." He mocked her, "I am Masa, greatest bandit known to these parts in years." He chuckled and letting his hand wander a bit over her, he felt her stiffen.

"And what do you want with me Masa-san?" If he wouldn't say where they were going maybe he'd tell her why they were taking her.

"I have been paid very well up to this point to kill your husband miko and take you to someone who has… plans… for you." His hand wandered higher until he squeezed her breast. "Perhaps he won't mind if I console the grieving widow first."

"If you want to keep that hand Masa, you will remove it from my person." Kagome snarled in her alpha voice and slipped her hand against her gauntlet, feeling the smooth metal slide up her arm. When his hand dropped away she asked, "Who paid you?"

That voice, it thrust against him and made him want to answer her. "He said he knew you. That you were meant for him and not the man you married." His hand wandered lower and slid over her thigh. Her scent was teasing his nose and she was a very beautiful woman.

She felt him harden behind her and reached for InuYasha. "InuYasha!" He was closer, she could feel him coming but she might not be able to hold out that long. Things were turning bad here and she was afraid. "Who paid you?" She asked, harder this time, alpha fully emerged as her eyes glimmered. "Kagome! He better not be touching my mate!" He could feel how Masa's hands on her were making her skin crawl.

"His name is… Nobu." He slid his hand into the flap of her hakama and pressed his mouth to her ear, flicking his tongue inside as he felt himself harden fully against her. "You will attend my needs miko, or I will beat you before taking you to this man."

Trying desperately not to vomit Kagome moved slowly, "Did Nobu happen to tell you who my husband was?" He was groping at her thigh, trying to pull her legs apart. The snarl from InuYasha rolled over her as he felt her revulsion. This man was touching her skin in ways no one but InuYasha had and it drove her fear higher.

"Some filthy hanyou of some kind. Don't care. He'll be dead by now for my men never fail." He pulled his horse to the side and stopped it, wanting the use of both hands, and grasped her breasts firmly as his men jeered and encouraged him on. He tugged and pulled at her haori, the cloth unlike anything he'd seen before.

Kagome turned towards him and smashed her gauntlet covered fist into his cheek, raking the claws deeply over his chest, she leapt from the horse, stumbling at the impact and ran. "INUYASHA!" She screamed for him. "Kemuri now!" She hollered for her hound and heard the roar of an enraged shadow hound from behind her.

Incised at the wounds she'd given him, Masa screamed, "Catch that bitch and you can fuck her after I do!" Somehow she'd clawed him through his armor, leaving deep wounds in his skin, and he thought she may have broken his cheekbone. Screaming in rage, he spurred his horse after the miko.

Kagome ran hard through the trees, her alpha making her faster and able to dash around the underbrush, but they had horses and were pacing her forcing her to change course as they herded her in the direction they wanted her to go. Hands reached for her and she twisted away with a slash of her claws to a forearm. She thought about using the youki in her gauntlet but there was just too many to take the chance and what if she hit Kemuri. The hound was gaining on her and she didn't want to hurt him by accident. Pulling a small amount of youki into her fist, Kagome slashed her claws through a tree as she passed and heard it hit the ground behind her as a horse screamed. Her soul shuddered and she felt a little sick at having hurt the animal.

Kemuri was working his way through them running in his battle form, snapping at horses and riders, poison flowing through his fangs as he chased down his mistress. Leaping, he landed on the horse and rider in front of him driving them into the ground. He could see the streak of red that was his mistress as she weaved through the forest and putting on a burst of speed gained ground. The crossbow bolt hit him in the shoulder and he yelped and stumbled but kept going. He would not fail! His tail whipped out behind him and smacked the bandit with the crossbow into a tree. Lifting his head he howled for the alphas as he ran, leaping the tree she'd downed.

Kagome stumbled, feeling the exhaustion as her energy drained from her. She was doing her best to stay ahead and could hear the crunch as Kemuri took out another rider but she was running out of time. "Hold on Kagome! I'm almost there!" InuYasha was frantic, racing through the forest, towards her. Sesshomaru was running hard, his approach seemed off and she realized he was circling to come from the other way. "Hurry my mate! I need my shugosha." She put on a burst of speed and ran through the underbrush into a wide open meadow. "Dammit! Not good InuYasha!"

"Run Kagome! Run for Sesshomaru!" He was ahead of her and she would reach him if she could clear the meadow. InuYasha felt his demon strain for more speed and he leapt into the trees, racing through the higher ground.

Kagome had made it half way when she heard the whistle. Feeling the leather wrap her around her neck, she hit the end hard, as the whip tightened and wrenched her backwards through the air. "INUYASHA! It was Nobu!" Choking, she pulled all her reiki into her center praying it would be enough and slammed into the ground. Her head connected with a rock, making a sickening crack accompanied by the jingle of bells, and as the world went dark she caught a glimpse of her hound in his battle form crash out of the trees.


A/N: R&R as you will!