Disclaimer: I'm not the owner of Inuyasha.

Inuyasha and Kagome emerged from the wandering tunnels. Kagome sighed, happy to be in the fresh warmth of the sun once again. Of course now she now had no idea where she was, and recalled that Miroku and Sango were still waiting for them at the OTHER end of the cave. "Um…Inuyasha…where are we?" She asked.

"How am I suppose to know?" He replied.

"You have the nose. I thought maybe you could smell and figure out where the other two people are." She pointed out. He sniffed gingerly, following her suggestion for once.

"We could be anywhere." He snorted. 'Another way for saying that he can't smell anything familiar.' She repressed a grin and looked around…and saw herself facing the bottom of a plateau, the cave barely noticeable in the rocky surface. She looked up at the sheer height of it, not believing how she could miss it…sure the sun was a distraction, but…

"Obviously we are nowhere near where we were last time." She said finally. Inuyasha didn't seem as impressed by the landscape; in fact, he kept looking in the opposite direction.

"Hey, civilization's that way." He said.

"Then lets go there and found out where we are." Kagome cried. "Maybe we can meet Sango and Miroku there…"

"Feh, those people are so slow it'll take them forever to get anywhere." He laughed.

"You know, we could be in the wrong direction then where we are suppose to be. In fact, they could be days closer than us to getting the Shikon." Kagome pointed out.

"…" He seemed a little disquieted by that thought. "Well, I'll still get it first! And then they'll tell us where the next piece is!"

"That is if we find them!" Kagome exclaimed, then stopped as a lingering thought began to bug her. Yes, they had agreed to work with those two, but… "Inuyasha, what are you going to do once the shard is complete?" She asked suddenly.

" I'll use it to become a full youkai." He began to walk towards 'civilization,' Kagome following close behind.

"But Sango wants it to be destroyed."

"Eh…I'll just take it and use it!" He cried.

"That's not fair! Not after everything Sango has gone through to get the shards she has!" Kagome yelled back.

"It is too! She is just some stupid human."

"I'm a human too!" Kagome cried, again getting annoyed. "Are you saying that I'm stupid?!"

"Of course." He laughed, but stopped at the mixture of sadness and anger in Kagome's eyes. 'Hmph, I thought he was going to be nicer to me now.' She thought, and sighed before running ahead. "Hey, Kagome…" She heard Inuyasha say. She started to turn around but a strange feeling began to tug at her…very softly, but it was there…Suddenly, she felt something wrap around her ankle.

"What--" Kagome shrieked as whatever had her pulled sharply, knocking her to the earth. She heard Inuyasha yell in surprise but by that time she was being dragged across the ground at an alarming speed. "Inuyasha!" She cried, almost looking back to see if he was there, but with the stinging bites of tree branches whipping past her, she instead held her arms up in a defensive stance, blocking the trees with the best of her ability. Everything around her was a blur and even when she stopped moving it took her eyes a moment to register the fact that she was still.

She looked wearily around, and saw a tree root was the thing that had her ankle. She reached down to pull her self free, when she heard a loud voice call to her.

"Who dares to pass on Maja's land!?" Kagome looked up, seeing strange looking men glaring down at her. They both had a humanoid appearance…but were different enough so that she couldn't quite call them humans. Their skin was darkly tanned with a tree-like texture, and they had green hair flying wildly about them. They didn't look overly strong, but had a graceful appearance that made up for it. 'Maja's?' She thought quickly. 'Weren't those the people we needed to see?'

"I came to find the Majas." She told them, but she only saw their glares intensify.

"We do not allow strangers." One hissed. "Human scum."

"Wait a minute! I'm no 'human scum!'" Kagome told him, standing to her feet. The root was still around her ankle, but it didn't seem to be restricting her movements.

"That's all humans are. They're easily corrupted and best dead." The other said lowly. Kagome felt herself get very angry. She hadn't even talked to these guys for one minute and here they were insulting her very species.

"You don't even know me! How dare you make such accusations!?" She cried, placing her hands on her hips and giving her most annoyed scowl at them. "You guys are such idiots! If you didn't want trespassers, why aren't there any signs that say 'No Trespassing' or 'Beware, obnoxious people who will insult you ahead,' something like that! People or Maja's shouldn't be so judgmental! You don't see me telling you that your entire race ought to die, do you!?" They gave her this look that easily read 'that's because our race is superior to yours.'

"The penalty for trespassing is death." One said, his mouth broadening into a malicious sneer.

"Wh-what?" The Maja's looked serious.

"One more human gone will better help the world." She started to back up as one pulled out his bow and aimed an arrow for her chest, but the root that had been wrapped around her foot stopped her from going anywhere. 'Why do I always end up in these situations!?' She couldn't help but close her eyes as she heard the hollow twang of an arrow being let loose. 'Inuyasha!' She thought to herself. 'I need you…' She peeked open one eye when she realized the shot never stuck home. "Inuyasha!" She cried, sure that he must have come to her rescue. She quickly discovered her mistake. It was another Maja, though this one didn't seem set on killing her. In fact he was…saving her?

The Maja held the arrow with two fingers and delicately snapped it with his hands. "What are you doing?"

"What the hell are you doing!?" The other demanded back. "That's a humans and we're killing it! A trespassing one no less."

"Ah, but the rules say to bring trespassers in for questioning, not to kill them on the spot."

"But she's human and all humans are bunch of conniving bastards. Rules don't apply to her kind." The other snapped. Kagome literally bit her tongue to stop from yelling.

"Oh, really?" Her savior looked at Kagome, as though inspecting her. "She doesn't seem like the kind who is planning on killing us. In fact, she doesn't look like the type to kill. Have you ever killed anything, my dear?"

"No." Kagome said firmly, making sure to sound like even the thought of her killing was ridiculous.

"See." He said, turning back to his bloodthirsty companions. "She isn't a killer."

"Damn you." One hissed. "You ought to hate them the most too! Do you even care if Flewnu is revenged!?" Kagome noticed the Maja stiffen at this remark, the life in his face draining away. The one who had spoke realized he had gone too far and hastily backed up.

"Of course I care. I just don't think we should judge all humans from one." He spoke quietly, his voice barely drawing above a whisper.

"Sorry. I went to far." Kagome wasn't sure what was going on, but whatever it was, the two Majas bowed to the guy that had saved her.

"I'll take her in. You go and patrol, this time not threatening to kill people." The Maja spoke lightly, but something in his voice sounded…mournful. The two hastily left. He turned to face Kagome. "I apologize for their behavior. We haven't had many visitors in several hundred years, and our last encounter with humans was not a good one."

"That's okay." Kagome said quickly. "Thank you for saving me."

"Aye, those guys probably would have killed you." He said grimly, then smiled charmingly. "So, how has a beautiful human such as yourself manage to get into Maja territory? I thought all the borders were well guarded."

"We went through this cave--"

"We?"

"Yes, Inuyasha and I…oh no! Where is Inuyasha!?" Kagome suddenly realized Inuyasha hadn't been right behind her…in fact he seemed to be no where near her, otherwise he would have rescued her. 'Where are you, Inuyasha?' She asked herself worriedly.

"Who is Inuyasha? Another human?" The Maja asked curiously.

"Well, he's a hanyou." Kagome told him.

"Ah." He looked at her and nodded. "A mixed breed."

"He's not just a mixed breed!" Kagome yelled at him. He blinked.

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't mean that as an insult. It's just that mixed species are rare in Maja. We have stuck with our own kind for hundreds of years, so never had that chance for that sort of interbreeding." He told her. "I'm guessing he is a kind person."

"Hmm?" Kagome looked at the Maja. "Well…I wouldn't put it in those exact terms..."

"Then he is mean?" He asked her.

"No…he just tries to appear tougher than he actually is. He's very nice, once you get to know him." Kagome said in Inuyasha's defense.

"Hmm." The Maja looked thoughtful. "I see that you know him very well, for it seems to me you see him as a nice person."

"Eh?" Kagome felt herself blushing and mentally slapped herself.

"Sorry, sorry. We ought to be focusing on finding him." He closed his eyes. "I have sent the trees to look for him. They'll direct him here." He said after a moment.

"Trees?"

"Aye." He said, smiling. "Us Maja's are connected with the trees. We were once a frail race, hardly living more that a five years before we wilted and died. Then we discovered a way to assimilate with the trees. They are at our beck and call, just as we are at theirs. If they die, we die…if we die…they…die…" He said. His eyes had a faraway look, giving the impression he was remembering something that had happened long ago. Kagome was about to ask what was wrong when he suddenly placed back on his charming expression. "They will find your Inuyasha."

"Thank you." Kagome said after a moment. "Hey, what's your name?" She asked, tired of thinking him as 'the Maja that saved her life.'

"Oh my, I've forgot my manners. I'm Yanto." He bowed to her. "And may I ask your name, young lady?"

"Um…its Kagome." She was a bit surprised by his politeness.

"What a lovely name!" He complimented and took her hand with his, bringing up to his lips. "Nice to have met you, Kagome."

"What the hell do you think you're doing?"

Just before Kagome was dragged off

"Hey, Kagome…" 'Am I going to apologize?' Inuyasha wondered, gulping. 'I'm not scared to. Sorry is just one word.' Kagome started to turn towards him, when she suddenly fell to the ground and was dragged into the forest. It happened so suddenly, it took Inuyasha a moment to realize what had happened.

"Kagome!" He yelled, springing after her. He leaped through the trees, easily gaining ground, but then the trees themselves began to attack him. This just confused Inuyasha.

"Damn you! Trees aren't suppose to attack, so stop moving!" He barked. But there they were, their branches flailing at him whenever he touched one, roots wrapping around his leg to stop him from moving. While he struggled to free himself, Kagome had vanished. "See what you're making me do!" He yelled and bared out his claws. "Do you want me to rip you in shreds?" He demanded irritably. 'Now look, I'm talking to stupid trees.' He sighed. 'Oh well. If trees can move then maybe they can understand too.' The trees actually seemed to back away from him. He smirked and walked forward, unmolested…only now he was lost.

He sniffed the air. He could smell trees and the faint scents of civilization, but no Kagome. 'The trees.' He realized. 'They're overpowering her smell with their own! Damn them!' He glared angrily around and began to stomp in the direction that he last saw Kagome go.

'You'll never be able to fully protect her.' The hanyou's words echoed inside his mind. He shook head angrily. 'Why'd that hanyou have to say stupid stuff like that?' He demanded, but fear still began to over take him and he found himself sprinting blindly through the forest as he imagined Kagome hurt or kidnapped or…dead. 'Why does she mean so much to me?' He asked himself quietly.

"Go that way…go that way…" Inuyasha spun backwards as he began to hear strange words around him. The trees were oddly bent, as though pointing in a certain direction. "That way…that way…" The wind whispered. Inuyasha paused, then ran in the direction specified. He had no idea where he was going, so maybe these weird trees did.

He broke through a clearing, finally catching Kagome's sweet scent. Then he saw her…with some strange guy lifting her hand towards his lips. He was shocked and just stood there for a moment before sprinting forward, knocking the guy away from Kagome. He stood protectively in front of her and growled at the strange looking creature. "What the hell do you think you're doing?" The creature looked a bit surprised, and, much to Inuyasha's annoyance, the bastard only smiled at him, not even phased by Inuyasha's words or glare.

Miroku and Sango decided to keep going in the direction of the Maja village, mutually agreeing that more than likely their two new companions would be doing the same. Sango suddenly veered from their standard direction. "The Maja's are located in a place surrounded by many natural barriers." She explained. "There is a mountain if you try to enter them the east or the north, and a plateau if you try to enter them directly from the west. The only clear way is from the south."

"And that way is heavily guarded, I suppose." Miroku smiled.

"Yes. They like their privacy."

"Will they let us in?" He asked. Sango stopped, looking unsure.

"They may…but I have heard that they despise humans. If we tell them of our mission though, then maybe…" Sango placed on a determined face. "If not, then we'll find a back way in and make them understand."

"I'll be there by your side." Miroku said calmly, stepping nearer to her. Sango couldn't stop the blush that appeared on her face and hoped that monk wouldn't notice.

"You can't get Naraku unless you have some sort of lure, so you have to stay with me." She said finally. Miroku laughed.

"That's true, but I'd probably go with you even if I didn't have this curse." Sango smiled, then felt something touch her butt. Her expression changed to shock and she promptly slapped him across the face as she stomped ahead. 'Damn that Miroku! He says the nicest things, then follows it with…with…that!!'

Kagome quickly gripped Inuyasha's arm to stop him from attacking the Maja. "You must be Inuyasha. I am Yanto, a Maja." Yanto said easily.

"Feh." Inuyasha snorted. "What the hell were you doing with Kagome?" The Maja studied him.

"You really are of two species." He said after a moment. "I have never seen anyone like you."

"What!" Inuyasha yelled. Yanto smiled.

"I will be directing you to the city, where you two will be questioned on why you are here. I'll be sure you both are treated with the utmost respect, since most of my kind will probably kill you when realizing you are both human, or at least part human."

"We aren't going with you anywhere!"

"Inuyasha, Yanto saved my life from other's of his kind." Kagome told him. Inuyasha paused, not looking quite so irritated.

"You did?"

"Yes." The Maja said.

Inuyasha turned to face Kagome. "So, you're all right then?" She nodded, feeling a little pleased that he seemed a worried about her. He sighed, hopefully from relief. "You were dragged away so suddenly, too." He said, sounding a bit annoyed. "I was just about to apologize, and you had to miss it."

"What?" Kagome said, startled. She recalled their brief fight. 'He was going to apologize? He has never said sorry before.' Inuyasha looked embarrassed.

"I mean…damn!" He swore. "I didn't want to tell you that!"

The Maja, who had been quietly staying out of their conversation looked between the two and broke in. "Kagome, you must know him very well." He said thoughtfully. "You two appear to be soul bound." Inuyasha and Kagome both looked at the Maja.

"Um…soul bound?" Kagome asked. 'The shard is made of the sorceresses soul, so maybe that is what he is talking about...' The Maja looked surprised she didn't know.

"When two souls are foretold to be one?" They both looked blank, though Kagome was having a feeling it was not about the Shikon shard. "Oh, how do other outsiders call it…" The Maja closed his eyes as he thought. "Hmm…mates? Married? It think that is the term used by other species."

"Wh-wh-what!" Kagome stuttered. "You think Inuyasha and I are--we haven't even dated or kissed or--" Her heart beat wildly in her chest and she knew her face must be several shades of red.

"Why the hell would I mate to my own slave?" Inuyasha demanded, though Kagome was happy to notice he was flustered as well.

"Oh, I appear to be mistaken. I guess that means lovely Kagome is free for the taken."

"What!" Inuyasha cried.

Yanto smiled, as though pleased by the reaction he got. He then narrowed his eyes as he contemplated. "Slave means one owned by another with your kind, correct?"

"Yah." Inuyasha growled, obviously not liking this Maja's words.

"Kagome, would you like to be rescued?" Yanto asked.

"That's okay. Inuyasha isn't really my owner; he only likes to think that." Kagome told him.

"Hey, you are mine!" Inuyasha yelled.

"I'm no ones!"

"What was it about you saying that you didn't mind being my slave?" He demanded.

"Oh, I don't mind." Kagome said. "But is that all you think of me as?"

"What?"

"Do you only think of me as a slave?"

"…Eh…" Inuyasha looked startled by her question. "Yes…no…" He said, turning around so she couldn't see his face.

"Which one?" She demanded.

"I'm sorry to break this up, but I really must take you with me." Yanto said suddenly. "Lets go." Kagome looked at Inuyasha, who was still facing the other direction.

"Fine then." She walked ahead, following Yanto. 'Fine then.'

Kagome was amazed by the sheer beauty of the Maja city. It was made entirely by bricks and stones, not a single piece of wood lying around. 'That's understandable, since they seem to be connected with trees.' She thought to herself. "Welcome to my home." Yanto said, his arm circling to include the entire area. "As I said, you will be treated well during your stay--I'll make sure of that--but it would probably be best for you to leave quickly." Kagome nodded.

"Your city is beautiful." She told him.

"Aye. This is my favorite view of it. Flewna and I would sit here for hours--" He suddenly stopped, his eyes clouding over.

"Are you okay?" Kagome asked worriedly.

"It's nothing, lovely Kagome." He said softly. "I'll take you to my mansion. You both will be safe there. I can question you myself, since the guards will not dare challenge my word." He laughed slightly. 'Flewna…' Kagome thought to herself. 'The Majas I first met mentioned her…who is she?' She didn't ask, sensing that her name brought only grief her Maja friend.

"You say we're going, but you're just standing there, moron. Lead us in." Inuyasha snapped at Yanto. 'I don't think Inuyasha likes him very much.' Kagome thought as she smiled slightly, but at the same time wished Inuyasha would show some sympathy.

"Oh yes, sorry." Yanto continued to walk, but stopped before leaving the forest. "Keep close to me and try to look helpless." He whispered.

"Why?" Kagome asked.


"The other Maja's won't be so happy I'm bringing you in. They'll probably have similar wishes as the Maja's you met earlier." Kagome nodded and they continued forward. She tried to look a like someone who couldn't hurt anything, but, for Inuyasha, it was harder. He just glared around, as though daring for somebody to challenge him.

Yanto was right about the other Majas not liking humans. As she entered the city, she could feel the entire atmosphere shift into hostility and the stares around her burned into the back of her neck. A heavyset Maja barred their path.

"Yanto." He said though gritted teeth. "You have a full human with you."

"Aye, that I do." Yanto said easily. "I'm taking them both in for questioning."

"You can take in the half-human, but leave the wench to us." He said dangerously.

"I'm taking them both." Yanto repeated.

"It was one of her kind that killed almost all of us! They deserve to pay! Human's greed led us to the dark times and human's will bring it again if we aren't careful." The Maja hissed.

"Step aside." Yanto said, his voice held tight with command. The Maja reluctantly backed away. Kagome sighed in relief. She hadn't been sure what was going to happen.

Her moment of relaxation vanished as she felt the presence of a shard…no…it was too strong to be a shard. The feeling was so overwhelming…it was so near…Kagome looked around, realizing they were passing a huge temple. 'It's in there.' She said to herself. Kagome found herself compelled to stop and had a sudden desire to rush in and take the Shikon shard…the Wisdom…her heart tingled at the thought of it being so near…

Kagome blinked as a stick fell inches within her feet, and winced as a pebble caught the temple of her head. She looked around, only half focused at the crowd. The Maja's, seeing that she had fallen behind and was out of the protection of Yanto, had come closer to her, their leering faces full of hate and anger. "Kill the human!" She heard some yell. "Kill them like he killed us!" She shuddered as objects came at her from all sides…the crowd blocking Yanto and Inuyasha from helping her…but still, she was finding hard to think…the Shikon…it was so near…Fear for her life, though, made her try to come up with a plan.

"Inuyasha!" She cried, hoping he would come to her rescue. 'I can't get out!' She realized. 'They are all around me…I'm afraid if I get too near, they'll rip me apart!' She quivered, her heart feeling a strange, throbbing pain…she shut her eyes tightly and screamed, "I'm not a killer! I haven't hurt you or anyone else!" The feeling she had been holding only intensified and she felt her consciousness cloud over. Dizziness took her and she was falling…only to be caught before she struck the ground. "Inuyasha?" She whispered, the intense throbbing power of the Shikon fading, instead being replaced by a different feeling…a warm feeling…

"Kagome?" She heard someone…Inuyasha…say, but she found it hard to concentrate, finally letting herself drift to the entrancing world of darkness.

Inuyasha was watching the crowd so intensely, he didn't even notice that Kagome had fallen behind. Suddenly, he heard her scream his name and spun around, seeing the Maja's barring the way back. 'Kagome…she's in there!' He realized, looking at the crowd of people. Yanto had turned around as well, his face also looking full of worry. "Let me through!" He demanded.

"Nay, friend." The same Maja from before smiled grimly. "Let the crowd have there fun. Human's haven't come here in such a long time…" Yanto's looked threateningly at the Maja, the Maja stepping back out of fear of his harsh gaze.

"I said to let me through." Yanto said softly. "That human is no killer." Inuyasha didn't really listen to either of them--he was more worried on how he was going to get to Kagome. When he heard her shout out again, he growled angrily under his breath and leapt over the Majas to where Kagome stood, blocking any further attacks on her.

"If you don't stop, I'll kill you!" He yelled. The crowd took a step back. Inuyasha smirked…then realized they weren't falling back because of him. He looked at Kagome, who didn't appear to see him. Her eyes were closed tightly and she was trembling, whether in fear or in shock. Inuyasha hardly noticed this, instead concentrating on the strange power emulating from her. A blue glow pulsed through her, echoing out around her in a haunting sort of way. It wasn't hurting anyone…but the possibilities…Inuyasha took an unwilling step back. He saw Kagome sway on her feet and begin to fall.

He ran forward, forgetting the strange power he sensed and scooped her up in his arms. She shivered next to him. "Inuyasha?" She whispered.

"Kagome." He said softly, and felt her loose consciousness. He picked her up, ignoring the strange looks he received from the still stunned Majas, and walked up to Yanto, who had been staring at the entire procession in awe. "Where's that mansion of yours?" Inuyasha demanded.

"A-aye." Yanto said quickly. "Follow me." The Maja lead him forward, the crowd breaking apart to let them through. 'No one tries to stop us now.' Inuyasha thought grimly. 'After Kagome got hurt…but what was that? The power…was that the power of a Miko? It has to be…' He looked at the girl in his arms and finally decided something. 'I need to become a better protector, otherwise that stupid hanyou's going to prove herself right.'

*******

I hoped you liked it ^_^ This kind of went differently then I had in mind…what do you think? Feedback is greatly appreciated!!! The more I get, the more obligated I feel to write ^_~

Anyway, thank you for all those that did review!