Thanks to all of those who gave their best wishes for my hand. I am all better now, and back to writing like normal. I hope you all enjoy the chapter and I will see you next week.

Chapter 35

Sesshomaru hadn't slowed down the moment he realized Kagome was missing. He had retraced his steps, going back to where they had camped and then followed the trail from there. He could smell Kagome's fear and desperation. She was fighting, trying to get back to him, but she couldn't.

He never should have given in to her. He should have left her behind with his mother, left her in a place that was safe and protected. Ultimately it was his selfishness to be beside her that finally got him to agree to allow her to tag along. He was a fool.

Stopping, he lifted his nose to the air discreetly. Another scent was mingling in with the others now. This one was trailing behind Kagome and the male that had taken her. It was a female, and she seemed to be tracking Kagome just as he was.

How many people were involved? Was Kagome in danger? His mind was a rush of thoughts and questions and calming himself down proved to be difficult. His mind wouldn't stop throwing every scenario possible into his mind. He had seen the spot where Kagome fell. The dirt was churned up, the scent of her blood assaulting. It was faint, meaning a small wound, but it didn't matter. His mind was far too gone.

Was his pup okay?

Sesshomaru stopped, eyes wide as he thought of what could happen to the baby in Kagome's womb. Stress did not mix well with pregnancy. Was it possible that she lost the baby? Even if he did save her, would she still lose their pup because he hadn't been able to protect her? Had he failed so badly?

Closing his eyes, he breathed deeply. His claws punctured the skin of his palm, dripping blood to the ground. He had to find her. Letting his mind run rampant wasn't getting him anywhere. If he wanted his mate and pup safe back in his arms, he needed to get control.

After a few moments, his eyes opened again, filled with determination. Once more he set off. He would find Kagome if it was the last thing he did. The sight he came across had him stopping, eyebrow raised. A male, the one whose scent mixed with that of his mate was squirming and trying to get free of the vines that had enveloped him.

The moment he noticed Sesshomaru, he began to screech, the sound muffled by the vines. Slowly, Sesshomaru approached him, taking glee in the way the male reeked of pure unfiltered terror. "You are right to fear This Sesshomaru. You took what belongs to me."

The man once more tried to break free but failed. Eyes wide, he watched as Sesshomaru lifted his arm, bringing his poisonous claws to the male's face. I single cut, and the male's mouth was free. A blood-curling scream left his throat, and Sesshomaru growled, silencing the fool.

"Explain or die."

"Please don't kill me! I only did what I was told to. I didn't have a choice." The male tried to plead for his life, but Sesshomaru could smell the lies. Pressing his claw to the male's cheek, Sesshomaru punctured the flesh, letting a single drop of his poison enter the fool who dared to lie.

These screams didn't brother Sesshomaru. These, the lord enjoyed. The rest of the group, which Sesshomaru had left behind, finally showed up, stopping a few feet away. They didn't necessarily agree with torture, but they weren't about to get in Sesshomaru's way. They had been surprised at his show of affection towards Kagome, but he was still very much the killing perfection.

"Your lies taint the air This One breathes. It will behoove you to speak nothing but the truth." Sesshomaru pulled his finger away, wiping the blood off in the male's hair. The coward flinched, tears leaking down his face as he sobbed loudly.

"The council hired a female to kill the Miko. But they worried that she would fail, so they sent the shapeshifter. He was supposed to take her place to buy enough time for me to deliver her to them." The male's head was hung low, his entire body trembling with fear and agony. "I never made it to them before that bitch attacked. She took the priestess and left me tied here for you to find. That's the truth, I swear."

"I believe you." Sesshomaru turned, letting the male think he was getting off easy. As the fool started to thank the lord, Sesshomaru raised his hand, blasting him with a fog of his poisonous gas. The screams only lasted for a second before the male melted away.

He didn't wait for the others before he took off again, once more following the scent of his mate. If he were to believe the fool he just killed, which he did, then Kagome had been taken by the woman that had been tracking Kagome. He sped up following the trail as fast as he could.

Coming across a hut, Sesshomaru stopped, fangs bared as he smelled his female. She was inside and had been for some time. He waited not a second before he started to stalk towards the door. Before he made it two steps, the door slammed open, revealing Kagome.

She stared at him for a moment, and then yelled out his name, running towards him. When she reached him, Sesshomaru snarled, wrapping himself around her and breathing deeply. She was okay. Their pup was okay.

"Kagome." Voice deep with relief, he held her, taking the time to comfort himself and his beast. His mate was alive. His pup was alive, and both were in his arms. The place they would never leave from.

Leaning back, Kagome cupped his cheeks and pressed her lips to his. He took her kiss, deepening it until he was able to steal her breath away. He felt someone looking at him, causing his eyes to snap open. A female stood in the doorway of the hut, surprise on her face as she watched the reunion between Miko and demon.

He didn't miss a beat with kissing his mate and even pulled her closer, but his eyes were dangerous and never left the woman who had taken Kagome. When he finally did pull away from his mate, he growled, hunching over Kagome to keep her safe.

"It's okay, Sesshomaru. I think." Kagome patted his chest, getting his attention on her. "She took care of me, treated my wounds and fed me. She hasn't tried to hurt me at all." She pressed herself against him, trying to help him calm down.

The rest of the group arrived, and they gave shouts of relief when they saw Kagome unharmed and back with Sesshomaru. InuYasha stepped forward, eyes narrowed as he looked at the woman who was still in the doorway. "Who the fuck are you?"

Lyra looked taken back by his blunt language before she narrowed her eyes in aggravation. "It's one thing to suspect me of ill intent, another to be just plain rude." This time it was InuYasha's eyes who widened as she laid into him. "Seriously, were you raised with no manners, or are you just a jerk in general."

"I raised myself so…" InuYasha shrugged his shoulders, looking away to hide the smirk he couldn't hold back as the woman instantly felt bad.

"InuYasha." Kagome warned, and he tensed, cutting a glance towards her. With a sigh, Kagome pulled from Sesshomaru's arms and made her way up to Lyra. "This is Lyra. She was hired by the council to kill me-" The entire pack was suddenly prepared to fight, their weapons drawn, and pointed at Lyra who shrank back. "Wait!"

"Maybe you should speak faster." Lyra took a step behind Kagome, trying to hide from the volatile group.

"She saved me! Yes, she was hired to kill me, but she doesn't want to. She won't hurt me; we just have to help her get out from the councils grasp." Her friends relaxed slightly, but they still didn't trust the woman. Kagome sighed, reaching up to press her fingers against the cool metal around her neck. "They collared me. I no longer have my reiki. She knew this and had every chance to kill me if she wanted to. But she…" Kagome looked at the woman with a thankful gaze. "She saved me."

Sesshomaru was furious. He knew the council placed collars on those they used as slaves. It was their intention to use Kagome for whatever horrendous act they desired. However, there was nothing he could do. If he even tried to take off the collar, Kagome would be in agonizing pain. Only the council themselves would be able to remove it. Looking at the woman who still stood behind Kagome, Sesshomaru narrowed his eyes. "Why did they hire you to kill her?"

"Hire is the wrong word." Lyra held up her hand, showing off the collar on her wrist. "My father sold me to them. I have no choice in the matter. But they sent me to kill her and become your mate. No offense, but that is not a desire I have." She shuddered at the thought. Kagome may love the Lord, But Lyra didn't want to go anywhere near him like that. "I think you are my only option at freedom, and that is all I want from you."

It was silent as Sesshomaru contemplated. He smelled no lies coming from the woman, and Kagome was unharmed, her wounds treated. However, it could all be a ploy. Get close to the pack, and then strike. As the saying goes, keep your friends close, and your enemies closer. "Come, Koneko."

He held out a hand to Kagome, who took it with no hesitation. Pulling her to him, he scooped her up so she could rest while they traveled. "You may travel with us; however, you will be watched."

"I can live with that." Lyra began to follow the lord, glaring at InuYasha as he glared at her. Out of this entire scenario, the hanyou would be the most annoying part. She could already tell.

…

Naraku stood in front of the council, looking at all four members. They seemed to be bored, uninterested in him and what he had to offer. That would change soon enough. When he was finished, he would have them eating out of his hand. "I want to make a deal."

"Deal?" One of the members laughed, ignoring the scowl of the spider. "What could a made half-breed such as yourself have to offer us?"

"You want Kagome out of the way. I want Kagome for myself." Naraku grinned, seeing that he had the council's attention now. "Should we work together, well, the possibilities are endless."

"We have already sent two of our slaves out to kill her. What makes you think she will survive both of them." The youngest council member leaned forward, narrowed eyes focused on the spider.

"You don't know her, or the others like I do. Yes, you can claim to know the workings of Sesshomaru more than I, but the rest… I know them. I know how they work, how they tick. You cannot kill one while the others are around. They work as a pack, a unit. Protect one, protect all." Naraku waited, letting his bait dangle in front of the fish. "I have a plan, one that could get Kagome by my side." Suddenly he had the interest of all four members of the council.