The probability of Inuyasha being here was slim to none truth be told. She knew that. The others knew that. Everyone knew it but she still had to check.

It took maybe a minute for Koga to come running to where Sango and Shippo had left her. Maybe less. Putting on her best smile, she fingered the sutra Miroku had once given her and waited.

Even if Inuyasha wasn't here, even if...if he was gone, she could - at a minimum - avenge his honor. Her forced smile grew more natural at the thought and by the time Kōga arrived, her smile was genuine.

And the wolf had no idea that smile should have shaken him to his core.

"Kagome," Koga hummed with cocky pride as he glanced around the clearing and puffed out his chest, "So you ditched the mutt, did you?"

"He's not with me, no," Kagome replied casually as she clasped her hands behind her back and took a few steps closer, "But I came to see you."

Koga made a slightly confused face as she came closer.

"Are you alone?" she cooed and he looked even more uneasy but nodded.

"Good!" Kagome hissed as she slammed the sutra on his chest and threw up a barrier. As Koga crumpled, his face was one of adject horror and betrayal.

"What the hell Kagome?!"

"Start talking mister," the enraged miko huffed as she towered over his immobilized body, "Where. Is. He?!"

"Oh so the mutt left you. Surprise. Surprise," Koga mocked acidly, "Did you use your skills on him too? Drive him away? Although you did already had him leashed. Maybe he was into submission."

He really should have seen the kick to the balls coming. Really he should have. Or not actually. Kagome had never been so pissed at one person in her entire life. Koga only showed up to torture the man she loved more than life itself. Made Inuyasha have a full melt down and doubt her. Made him think that he'd...he'd been some terrible abusive jackass or something. Made him think the only way to atone for what Koga was saying he'd done was to kill himself or be killed. That last part was unforgivable.

Koga had worn Inuyasha down so completely; had convinced him that he was so worthless that he deserved to die. Now Inuyasha was missing and Koga had the audacity to insult the man he'd already tortured some more?! To kick a dog when he was down! Oh, Koga had another thing coming if he thought she'd play nice after that.

But given the look of utter shock beneath the expression of pain, apparently the last thing Koga ever thought she'd do is kick a man in the balls. To be fair, that surprised her too. Pissed she may be but that might have been too much. Technically, her techniques could've been worse though. That 21st century education gave her many, many examples of war crimes and human rights violations to consider for interrogation purposes.

"What the fuck Kagome?!" Koga hissed as he lay there immobilized but obviously wanting to writhe in pain, "What the hell has gotten into you? Did fucking the dog break you or something?"

"You knew we'd had sex," Kagome asked momentarily distracted, "You can smell that?"

Koga gave her a withering glare.

"And yet you assumed that if I fucked him I'd fuck you too? Because clearly that's why I'm here, right? I obviously don't have standards," Kagome continued angrily and Koga's eyes widened both in shock at her langauge and fear that he'd somehow pissed her off more.

"Wait, that wasn't…"

"You took a lot of pleasure in breaking him, didn't you?" Kagome hissed as she knelt down and glared down at Koga's horrified face, "Convinced him you were so much better when in reality you're the sleaziest man I've ever met. You propositioned me within the first twenty four hours you met me. Would never take no for an answer but you had the balls to tell Inuyasha that he wasn't good enough for me. Like he didn't almost die every other day protecting me while you were off doing god knows what."

"He never treated you with..."

"Oh don't even," Kagome snarled and Koga's mouth shut instantly, "Now you know where he is and you're going to tell me."

The delayed and dawning realization that the situation may be far more serious than original believed shone in Koga's eyes. Intermingled with the general shock, he looked half-crazed like he believed he was having an acid trip from hell.

"He really is missing? Not that he left you but that he was taken?"

"Don't play stupid," she pressed but the look of confusion, then realization and finally fear in his eyes told her the answer. It told her several things in fact.

"You don't have him but you know who does," she hummed as she set her jaw and glared, "Where is he?"

"I don't know what you're talking about. I don't know where the hell that mutt might be," Koga managed, "Listen I only heard about Inuyasha being hurt in the first place from that bastard brother of his. Came around asking questions. Go ask him."

"That's what you're going with? Sesshomaru asked you questions one freaking time and therefore he's the one who has Inuyasha," Kagome snorted, "Do you think I'm an idiot?"

"I'm telling you the truth!" Koga protested, "I've never lied to you. He found me when I was searching for Naraku a while back. Asked me if I knew anything but that was the first I heard of it so I went to see for myself."

"So...the person telling everyone wasn't Naraku…"

"Oh he came by too," Koga snorted, "Told me he'd heard Inuyasha was hurt after I already saw him. For the record, I did lie to that bastard."

"But Sesshomaru told you first," Kagome clarified and Koga rolled his eyes.

"Bastard came back too. Wanted a run down," Koga snorted, "Dunno why he didn't just go see for himself. Stoic jackass. I'm not his…"

"Why did Sesshomaru care?" she muttered distractedly, "That's not like him."

"I don't know. Maybe instead of interrogating me you should go ask him yourself. That jackass is probably the one who has the mutt," Koga challenged before he set his jaw and gave her a withering glare, "Or maybe Inuyasha just left you for being a crazy bitch. Didn't think of that, did you?"

The wolf seemed to realize that was a mistake seconds before Kagome's fist collided with his jaw. The sickening crack that resounded from the contact surprised him more than it surprised her. Apparently the dainty little miko could punch.

"That hurt!"

"Well that makes me happy," Kagome huffed as she got to her feet and began walking away.

"Wait! Wait! You're not going to just leave me like this are you?!"

"It'll wear off in a day or two," Kagome clipped back as she glanced over her shoulder, "Which is more than you deserve."

It wasn't like her to be vindictive much less violent but damn if it didn't feel good to put Koga in his place. Was she taking her own frustration out on him? Yes. Did she feel bad about that? No. Would she feel bad once she found Inuyasha safe and sound? Probably.

But right now she didn't give a shit about leaving Koga in the dirt where he belonged. She had a smug daiyoukai to kick in the balls and a husband to bring home.

xoxxoxoxxoxoxxoxxoxo

"What the literal fuck?! You didn't have to kill her! You could've just…"Inuyasha hissed as Sesshomaru threw him up against the nearest tree.

"She was in the way."

Inuyasha's nostrils flared in both anger and fear as he instinctively began surveying their surroundings for the best exit. It would be ugly and probably the most humiliating get away in history but he had to get away no matter what it took. To do what needed to be done so he could live even one more day with his wife who he loved and who, for god knows what reason, loved him right back. Besides Sesshomaru was never one to play games like this. Obviously the bastard had no issue killing people in the open. So why take him here? As far as Inuyasha could tell they were in the middle of nowhere. Running - if that was actually an option - would be pointless but seemingly the only option. Problem being, of course, there was nowhere to hide once he ran. Trees would offer little to no protection. They were half a day's run to the nearest town. Besides if murder was on Sesshomaru's mind the bastard would want people to see that the deed was done. No, Sesshomaru had taken him here for some other reason. But what that reason might be was beyond Inuyasha's frazzled reasoning abilities.

Random reasons or not, Inuyasha knew he couldn't assume this was a friendly kidnapping. If there was even such a thing. What he needed to focus on was survival. No matter the cost. Kagome was waiting for him. All that mattered was getting back to her. He'd do whatever he needed to do. Anything he needed to do.

"If you want the sword, go ahead and take it," Inuyasha hissed with no lack of desperation as he fumbled with the sheath. One agonizingly long moment later, he thrust the damn thing to the ground, "Can't use it anyway. So there. Now you have it. You can do whatever you want with it. I don't care."

"A regrettable choice of words," Sesshomaru mused as he knelt down to inspect the weapon - an unidentifiable emotion gleaming in his eyes that made Inuyasha's instincts go haywire.

In retrospect, throwing the sword was definitely a mistake. Something he desperately wanted to take back. Hell maybe he could use the Tessaiga with one hand when he was properly motivated. Like now. Now would've a great time to try out that theory instead of throwing away the only really chance he had of surviving.

Taking a steadying breath, Inuyasha flexed his claws. There was still one attack he could use. That might give him a five second head start while he ran as fast as he was able. Or he could just run now before Sesshomaru did whatever the hell he had planned. There was more emotion on that usually stony face - more indecision - than Inuyasha he ever seen. Which all things considered was terrifying. It was like Sesshomaru was….

Decision made, Inuyasha's hand moved to slam down on his arm and use blades of blood but before he could even get close….

Something slammed into him.

In absolute shock, Inuyasha crumpled to his knees pointlessly grasping the metal embedded deep in his stomach. Despite the fully transformed weapon clearly burning its wielder, Sesshomaru plunged it all the way though until crimson soaked steel protruded from his victim's back as the black handle pressed against broken skin. Then and only then - after the optimal damage had been inflicted - was the sword withdrawn and discarded. The flesh on the daiyoukai's hand still sizzling from the limited contact. For a moment, Inuysha twitched with his hand pressing against his flesh - his breath coming out in short painful gasps as he collapsed onto his side.

"I...I gave it to you...I...I'm not a threat...I don't..I don't...," Inuyasha tried in between quick panicked gasps as he lay on his back and tried to stop the blood from flowing, "I just...I...just...I'll go...I won't...just..."

Suddenly, the half-sobbing half-demon found himself being thrust onto his side - powerless to do much more than weakly grip the grass by his hand in a feeble attempt to escape. Inuyasha could feel his heart struggling to beat and he couldn't force his body to move. Maybe if he begged? He was not above begging. Not anymore. Any pride he'd possessed had disappeared with his missing arm. And he'd do anything to see Kagome again. Anything.

"Please...I just want...to go home...please…"

One well placed kick to the base of his spine and the sickening crack it caused wrenched a raw scream from Inuyasha's throat. A second later poison soaked claws were raking deeply along his spine, hard talons on bone ripping through the surrounding flesh with effortless ease.

In that instant, Inuyasha willed his full demon form to cloud his mind. To save him so he could spend at least one more moment in Kagome's arms. To tell her one last time how much he loved her. But it refused and remained dormant like it could sense something he couldn't. Like it knew something he didn't. Maybe it was too late for his youkai to make a difference. Maybe it knew…

"Please…"

But it was no use begging for his life. The daiyoukai clearly didn't care though why for even one instant Inuyasha thought his pleas for mercy would have made a difference confused even him. Another scream was ripped from his throat and then his voice cut off unnaturally when a fist was thrust through the hole in his gut and the defeated half-demon found himself staring down at glowing fingertips with heartbroken eyes. Never in his life had injuries like this frightened him but...but he'd never had anything to lose before. Not really. In the past, death would have almost been a relief. A fleeting hope existed that his next life would be better than this one had been. But for once, his life was almost perfect. For once, he had something of value. Of worth. They could've been happy. They had been happy. He had been happy. And now...now...

"You're weak half-breed," Sesshomaru hummed in a very bored tone as he pulled back his hand, "Unable to run to save your own life. Begging like a coward. Pathetic."

A few tears leaked from amber eyes as blood began gathering in his throat cutting off his air. Inuyasha's head swam as every cell left with feeling screamed for oxygen. Each gurgling inhale felt like a thousand knives in his chest. His already blurry vision grew dimmer as he blinked slowly at the nearest tree for lack of something better to focus on. Stubbornly he tried to quash down the rising panic and tell himself there was no reason to be afraid. He would survive this. He'd survived worse. Not that any specific injury could come to mind but he'd healed from plenty. This was just one more obstacle. One more thing to survive. Once Sesshomaru got bored or, hopefully before, Kagome would find him and heal him and hold him and tell him it'd be okay and he'd believe her. Everything would be okay. He just needed to survive this. It would be okay.

Despite his silent pep talk, another tear slid down his cheek and dripped lazily off his chin into the dark crimson pool surrounding his body. Somehow he still had enough in him to flinch when those acidic claws raked across his already missing arm - the newly opened wounds burning like he'd just been branded by hot irons. A strong foot descended on his legs and Inuyasha's responding gurgling scream as they shattered sounded distant and far away.

"Are those tears I see?" Sesshomaru muttered with no lack of disdain as he straightened up and stared down in disgust, "Have you lost what little dignity you possessed?"

Ignoring the taunt, Inuyasha clenched his eyes tightly shut and set his jaw. He just needed to survive this. Kagome...even if he...if he never walked again she'd still love him. Even if he was more disfigured than he'd been, it would be okay. It would be fine. It'd be okay. It'd be..

His silent mantra stopped with devastating force as Inuyasha felt a single hand tightly grip his chin. In that instant, any thoughts of survival were extinguished. There would be no surviving a broken neck. If anyone knew that it'd be him. How many foes had he taken out this way?

Perhaps this was the universe's way of mocking him. Give him everything and take it away. Another tear broke free as the hand began to move.

"Kago..."