Chapter 9

Disclaimer: I don't know about the rest of you, but I DO own Inuyasha. I own pictures and the game and wall paper on my computer.

A/N: Well I've been having all these ideas just flowing outta me and I haven't had homework really this last few weekends so I decided to post it before I get crammed with homework .

" Are you sure she said she was headed back to camp?" Kagome asked fearfully as she searched the grass near the spring for clues to the disappearance of her school friend. Mariko had been missing for an hour and Kagome kept feeling guiltier by the minute. All she could think about was that if she hadn't have dropped the Shikon shard in school none of this would have happen.

"Yes, I am sure." Sango responded as she searched. It was an unseasonably hot day with hordes of mosquitoes everywhere. Still everyone persevered on even though their clothes stuck to their backs and sweat filled their eyes, sometimes blurring their vision. All they had to show for their search was a spot where Mariko had crossed paths with three demons. Apparently the three demons carried Mariko off into the sky, because her scent was everywhere. It had to have been carried by the wind. Inuyasha tried unsuccessfully to follow Mariko's scent through the air but all he ended up with were dead ends. Finally, when everyone was ready to give up hope, Inuyasha smelt Mariko and the three demon's scent again, it was stronger than the dead-end leads so he followed it with everyone else using him as a guide on the ground.

"We have her my liege" Johanna announced joylessly as the two other captors brought in a bag with the girl in it. The bag did not move or thrash around as if someone was trying to escape. In fact, even with Merrick keen youkai eyes, he could not see the bag move up and down to indicate breathing.

"I wanted her alive you morons!" He shouted. As he neared the bag to open it, he noticed it wasn't Khali's scent, it was a scent of another; faintly familiar, but different all the same. He untied the bag to see a young girl bounded in thick brown rope so tightly wrapped around her ankles and wrist that it caused her to bleed. Her eyes were covered with a cloth, and she was gagged with part of a kimono. She barely even breathed. Merrick removed the restraints and placed her in his velveteen silk bed. He then shooed the captors out of his bedroom, so he could talk to them without disturbing the girl.

"That is NOT Khali you idiots! When I sent you on this mission I had heard you were the best trackers. I was also under the impression you knew what Khali looked like. Someone is gonna pay for this screw up." Merrick bellowed so loud the hallway shook. He had murder in his eyes, and his eyes were set on Johanna.

Johanna backed up slowly until she had reached the hallway wall. "Master Merrick Diego had said that was Khali. He also said that he had seen her a million times." Merrick crept closer to her until he was pressed up against her so hard that the poor girl could not breathe.

"Is that so?" Merrick asked. Johanna couldn't take it anymore. She knew what was coming, so she closed her eyes and waited for the pain and burning to start. She felt the air around her heat up, and the next thing she knew she heard a girlish like scream. The scream hadn't come from her so she listened closer, it was Diego and he was screaming like a girl. Johanna opened her eyes to see Merrick still pressed against her, but his head and attention was turned towards Diego. Diego was on fire; the next thing Johanna saw was Diego turning gray and falling into a pile of ash.

Merrick turned his attention towards Johanna, "Don't start a track record of not completing your missions or that'll be you next time. Your too pretty for that to happen to." Merrick said softy. He kissed her firmly and then headed back into his room.

The temperature changed from hot to wintry as they approached Mariko. The winds had picked up, and traps had been set more frequently as they neared their destination.

"Inuyasha, we need to stop and rest for the night. It's dark." Sango shouted to the silhouette object flying in the sky.

"We can make it, I see a palace up ahead." Inuyasha grunted.

"We're too tired, and she'll be there tomorrow." Kagome shouted. Miroku glanced uneasily at Khali.

"She's there don't worry. He'll keep her safe for now." Khali responded.

"Then it's settled, we'll camp out in that cave." Miroku announced as the group headed for shelter.

Merrick headed toward the fireplace and placed his hand on a candle next to it. The fire in the fireplace receded and Merrick entered it. He went down a winding staircase until he reached an underground waterfall. He only had to wait a half an hour before Naraku appeared.

"You haven't found Khali yet?!" Naraku yelled.

"No, not yet. My people who have failed have been severely punished." Merrick responded.

"Let us hope I should not have to do the same to you. You have shown so much … promise." Naraku responded.

"I have another plan. My servants did indeed bring the wrong girl, but she is with Inuyasha. I know this because she has said it in her sleep. If I can get her to trust me and mate with me, she will believe everything I want her to. My youkai special ability has been strengthen by my Shikon shard. I can get her to believe I am the "good guy " if we kiss, but that is only temporarily. For it to be permanently, we have to be mated." Merrick said.

"Can you get this done before her friends find out where she is?" Naraku asked.

"Yes, I'll just charm her more than I have my other victims." Merrick responded.

"Good, do it. Lets hope this works. GO, make friends. Ku ku ku ku ku." Naraku laughed and then left.