So, I somehow hurt my hand. So, any mistakes I made with editing, I apologize for. I've been trying to get better about editing my chapters, but there may be more mistakes than normal. I do have a question for you all. Would you like to read another Miroku and Kagome pairing story? I'm working on three at the moment, and only one of those I post. If you would like, I could post another. Anyways, I hope you all enjoy.

Chapter 34

Kagome pulled back against the chain attached to the collar around her neck. She had just finished relieving herself, about to head to the others when she was attacked by something that would terrify her for the rest of her life.

Herself.

It was a spitting image, at least until the fake Kagome gave a wicked smile, and then Kagome knew she was in trouble. Before she could scream the copy Kagome had tackled her to the ground and placed a gag over her. Then a type of collar was placed around her neck, and although Kagome wanted to scream, she couldn't.

When that collar was placed around her neck, agonizing pain coursed through her entire body, bringing tears to her eyes. Her top fear had been her baby. It was defenseless, unable to protect itself, and Kagome wasn't doing very well with protecting herself or her baby.

The shapeshifter was just too fast and too strong.

She had tried to call on her reiki, but when she did, she was filled once more with a pain that had her screaming out, though it was muffled due to the gag in her mouth. She still fought as hard as she could, but it didn't matter.

The shapeshifter bound her hands and then handed her off to another demon, who was now dragging her behind him. She was tired, had been walking all night. Her bladder was full, and she was hungry, starving.

Glaring up at the male before her, she pulled back once more, trying to see if she could wiggle out of her restraints, but she got nowhere. Every time she pulled, she just caused her neck to chaff from the movement, but she couldn't give up. She had to get free so she could get back to the others. She was worried about them.

That shapeshifter had handed her off and then took her place. She worried for them, hoping that the shapeshifter hadn't harmed them. She looked up, blinking away the tears in her eyes. She wouldn't let the enemy see how desperate she was becoming.

Her baby, Sesshomaru, all of the others, she was fearful that they had been hurt. She had no reiki. She couldn't do hand to hand combat without risking her child. At that moment, she was weak. Completely and utterly weak.

She tried once more to speak to her capturer. Maybe if she could get him to let her speak, they could come to some sort of understanding. However, as luck would have it, he just ignored her, pulling roughly on the collar so she fell forward. She landed on her knees roughly, bruising them.

"I don't get paid enough to deal with this shit." The demon turned to look at her, scowling as she looked up at him. "Get up, or I'll drag you."

She hated this bastard. Standing to her feet, she glared at him, wishing he would fall in a hole. Then again, if he did, he would probably drag her with him. It seemed his grip on the chain that connected to her never lessened. She couldn't wait until Sesshomaru found her. He would shred that male to pieces.

The demon once again started walking, mumbling to himself. "Can't wait until I get her back to the council. She will be made into a slave, and I'll demand I get to use her first. It's the least I deserve. Stupid bit-"

Before he could say anything else the tree he had been walking past seemed to come to life. Its roots rose, tripping up the male before vines descended from the canopy, wrapping around him until all you could see were his eyes and up.

Kagome took a step back, looking around for the culprit. Quickly she turned, not wanting to waste the chance to escape while she could. She only made it a few steps before she was pulled back roughly, the collar on her neck, digging into her flesh as she fell back. She coughed, trying to breathe through the pain.

"Sorry." A female walked out from behind the tree, and Kagome curled in on herself. Why was this happening? Why couldn't she get away? She had promised Sesshomaru that she would be safe, and now she was being passed from demon to demon.

The female grabbed Kagome's chain, which was passed to her by a vine from the tree. "Can you stand?" She waited patiently on Kagome, watching as the bound Miko pushed to her feet shakily. Turning back to the male that was struggling to break free, the woman scowled at him. "I think I'll leave you here. When Sesshomaru comes, I am sure he will want to speak to you."

The male began to struggle more, fear in his eyes as he tried to break free. The woman chuckled and then began walking. She kept looking back at Kagome, making sure Kagome was keeping up. The Miko felt like she could sleep for three days straight.

They didn't walk far, another hour, before they came across a hut. The woman stepped inside, holding the door open for Kagome. When they were inside, she locked the door and then approached Kagome. The Miko stepped back, nearly falling over, but the woman caught her.

"I know you don't trust me. I don't blame you." She untied Kagome's wrist and smiled at the woman. "I'm Lyra." Moving upwards, she removed Kagome's gag, and the smaller woman moved her mouth, stretching her muscles. "I can't do anything about your collar, but I can take the chain off."

"You're helping me?" Kagome's voice was hoarse, her hands wrapped around her belly as Lyra unclipped the chain from around her neck.

"Yep. Sit down. I'll make you something to eat." Lyra pointed to a chair, but Kagome didn't move. She blushed, looking down and Lyra cocked her head to the side. She looked over Kagome, seeing the way the female was holding her thighs together, and suddenly it hit her. "Ah. There is a restroom in that door to the right. I'll make you tea and food while you are in there."

Kagome nearly ran to the bathroom. Relieving herself was a moment of bliss. When she was done, she cleaned her hands and then began to look around the restroom. There was a small window, one that she could fit through if she squeezed, but when she tried to open it, she discovered it was locked. Locked windows, and locked doors. Lyra may have removed her chains, but she was still trapped.

Walking back out, Kagome wrapped her arms around herself. She moved over to a cushion in the corner of the room, staying as far away from Lyra as she could. Her knees pulled up to her chest, and she lowered her head, wishing for Sesshomaru.

"Are you hungry?" Lyra was standing before Kagome, holding two bowls of oden.

"Yes, but I won't eat." She was honest, her patience gone from the situation. She was ready to go home at this point. Lyra smiled and then sat in front of Kagome. She made a show of eating from both bowls of oden, opening her mouth afterward to prove that the food wasn't poisoned.

Hunger won out, and Kagome began to scarf down the food.

"After you are done eating, I'll treat your wounds. It looks like your skin chaffed a bit from the ties." Lyra leaned forward, looking at the collar around Kagome's neck. "I was hoping to get to you before they collared you. I'm sorry I was late."

"You act like you wanted to rescue me, but I'm trapped here." Kagome kept herself impassive, remembering the training Sesshomaru had given her. Don't give any weaknesses away.

"If I left everything unlocked, you would escape, right?" Lyra chuckled, and it wasn't unfriendly. "I wanted you to listen to me before you left."

"Then talk. You've got me trapped already."

"The council wants you either dead or as one of their slaves. From the collar on your neck, I take it they chose a slave." Lyra leaned back, setting her bowl to the side. She wasn't very hungry anymore. She had no idea how this conversation was going to go.

"Slaves?" Kagome looked up to her, confused.

"Yea. You didn't know. Any person with strong spiritual energy is enslaved. They are a threat to demon kind, and the council captures them before they can do any different. No one can do anything about it. None of the lords or anything, because if they try, they are suddenly fighting an army of slaves that have abnormally strong reiki."

Lyra cocked her head to the side, seeing Kagome process what she had just said. "Do you know anything about how demon society is run?" When Kagome shook her head, Lyra sighed. "Okay. You have the four lords of Japan. They rule the East, South, West, and North. The council rules them. At least in a certain way. No major decisions can be made without the council's approval. The council has been after Sesshomaru to mate for some time now. Which is where I come in."

"You want to mate, Sesshomaru?" Kagome's eyes narrowed in possessive anger, and Lyra leaned back with a smile.

"Nope. He's all yours." Lyra's smile faded, and she sighed. "My father sold me to the council. I am their property now, and they have ordered me to kill you." When Kagome gasped, eyes searching for a way out, Lyra hurried to reassure her. "I won't kill you. They wanted me to take your place, kill you and become the mate of Sesshomaru. I have no desire to mate him or be the lady of anything. I just want to run through a forest during spring, or a flower garden during the summer. I need you, to be free."

"How can I help?" Kagome was still wary. She had a baby in her belly and keeping her guard up may be the only thing that keeps her and her baby safe.

"Not you, necessarily. But Sesshomaru. He can kill the council and free us all. If anyone would have a chance, it would be him and the others you travel with. I want you to convince him to go after the council."

"How do I know you aren't lying." Kagome refused to let herself be manipulated.

Lyra held out her hand, showing a matching bracelet to the collar around Kagome's neck. "I can still use my power, but it's dulled. If I try to use more than I'm allowed, it becomes painful. It's the same for yours, except your reiki is bound completely."

Kagome was silent for a moment, thinking about everything she had learned. If Lyra was telling the truth, then Kagome would be the target of the council until they were taken care of. Sesshomaru would go after them no matter what. They were already his target, and she knew it. "Can you take me to Sesshomaru?"

Lyra laughed then. "He's already on his way. The trees are whispering to me. He is furious and in a rage. He will be here by nightfall." Lyra didn't miss the excitement in Kagome's eyes, and she looked at the younger woman thoughtfully. "You really do love him."

Kagome nodded, and then sat back as Lyra stood. The demoness made her way to the door and unlocked it. She turned back to Kagome and smiled. The choice was Kagome's. She could go out into the wilderness and brave any demon or council member she may run across, or she could wait until Sesshomaru arrived for her.

It was an easy choice. She would stay in the hut where it was safe. Here she only had to worry about Lyra. A single demon. Out there, it would be impossible to know what she would run into. She would stay in the hut and wait anxiously. Soon Sesshomaru would be there for her.