I GOT 50 REVIEWS! 50! 50! 50! 50! 50! 50! HA HA HA HA HA HA! THAT MAKES ME SO HAPPY. I LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH. I WOULD GIVE YOU ALL A BIG HUG AND KISS IF I COULD, BUT SINCE I CAN'T, I DECIDED TO WRITE YOU GUYS ANOTHER CHAPTER. ANYWAY, HOPEFULLY THERE'S A LITTLE BIT MORE ROMANTIC DEVELOPMENT IN THIS CHAPTER. BETWEEN NUMEROUS PARTIES. ANYWAY, HERE WE GO.

*Disclaimer* Ummm, ya know, the usual.

CHAPTER 3

Sesshoumaru walked through the misty landscape, following the girl's scent. It really was foolish of her to go wandering off in the middle of the night. She couldn't possibly be trying to run away? She had absolutely no idea where she was going without Naraku anyway. Something was bothering him, but he wasn't sure what it was. Then it hit him. Why didn't he just beat up Naraku and force him to tell how to get out of the air rip. Then he could just take the girl with him and get out of this place. In any event, it didn't matter. He would kill Naraku when they got out of there, and he didn't really care what happened to his brother's woman.

After a few minutes, he realized that he was approaching a stream. The girl couldn't possibly be... Sesshoumaru froze. She was standing under a waterfall, the falling droplets dancing down her body. Sesshoumaru found himself simply staring at her shape, at her perfect curves. She looked like a goddess,

Every rational thought told him to stomp over there and tell the girl to stop being so foolish and get back to the camp, but he found his body unable to move. After a few moments, he felt some semblence of rationality returning. If she were to spot him, she would call him a hentai and yell at him. If he stomped over, she might do that anyway, but the result would be much more enjoyable.

Before he could move, however, she started to talk. At first he thought she had spotted him, but then he realized she was talking to herself.

I will get out of this. I really will. Even though it's with the two of them. Anyway, I have to get back to Inuyasha.

A foreign feeling pumped through Sesshoumaru's veins at these words. He was angry, and, there was something else...

Back to Inuyasha, she mused. I wish that he wanted me back with him. Really wanted me back, for me, not my abilities.

Sesshoumaru considered this a moment, slightly confused. He wanted to hear more of her reverie, but it was distrubing him, so he decided to interrupt it. He stalked over to her, putting on a blank face with a slight twige of annoyance. Miko, you should know better than to wander off in the middle of the night.

Kagome squeaked, and ducked under the water. A very predictable response. When she stuck her head up, Sesshoumaru said, Miko, come out of that water.

Not with you there, you hentai! cried Kagome.

Sesshoumaru sighed in exasperation. Come out, or I will drag you out myself.

You will not! cried Kagome.

Miko, you are trying my patience.

I have a name, you know! she cried, as she slowly stood up and walked deliberately out of the water. Noticing the way Sesshoumaru's eyes followed her figure, she muttered under her breath,

Human females do not interest me, miko, Sesshoumaru said.

For some reason, that sent Kagome over the edge. She stomped up to him and started to pound on his chest. I. Have. A. NAME! It's KAGOME! K! A! G! O! M! E! Got it! Do! Not! Call! Me! MIKO!

Sesshoumaru easily trapped both of her wrists (her pounding wasn't hurting him anyway, but it was annoying him). Kagome, who had completely forgotten that she was utterly nude, suddenly remembered her predicament.

She turned bright red. Let go of me, Sesshoumaru!

Instead of complying with her request, Sesshoumaru flew forward, trapping her against a tree, with her arms above her head. Do not order me around.

Kagome gasped slighlty in fear, suddenly remembering exactly who she was talking too. She was with Sesshoumaru, youkai lord without emotions, ruthless killer, gorgeous body... Well, let's just pretend I didn't think that, Kagome thought.

But, then again, when did Kagome ever cower in fear. You can't get out of here without me, so you can't kill me. Let me go right now, Kagome said, as calmly as she could.

But Sesshoumaru did not want to let go. Although it looked to Kagome that he was simply staring at her with a blank face, his mind's wheels were turning. This girl, this Kagome,' had the most amazing eyes he had ever seen. They were a radiant blue (um, does Kagome have blue eyes? She does now!) that he had never seen on anyone before. They seemed to be endless pools of spirit... Fire and ice...

And she smelled so different from other humans he had encountered. She smelt like spring, newness.

Kagome was shocked as he leaned forward slightly and his nose twitched as he sniffed her.

My my my, this certainly looks friendly.

Both Kagome and Sesshoumaru turned sharply as the amused voice of Naraku interrupted him.

Sesshoumaru released Kagome, who promptly jumped into the bushes. Sesshoumaru stood there, his face blank, and Naraku chuckled darkly. Is there something I should know? I didn't know you took after your father, Sesshoumaru.

You may think whatever you like in that twisted mind of yours, Sesshoumaru said. In the meantime, I think we have had enough rest, and so I think that it is time for us to get going.

Just at that moment, a giant snake youkai rose from the river, its red eyes fixed on the girl in the bushes behind him. Sesshoumaru destroyed it easily in one swipe.

Youkai will be getting more common from now on. And more dangerous, the closer we get to our destination, said Naraku. However, I have been doing some thinking. And I think that I can get to the destination without you, Sesshoumaru. So I'm afraid that this is goodbye.

Sesshoumaru raised one eyebrow.

Naraku did his trademark laugh and waved his arm, releasing a web of miamsa (sorry about spelling).

***

Inuyasha was sitting on the floor beside Kagome's backpack, holding onto a framed picture that he had found inside. It showed him and Kagome. Miroku had taken the picture after receiving instruction from Kagome. Kagome... He missed her so much, and he knew that he had to do whatever he could to get her back. It scared him to think what might be happening to her. It really scared him. Please, whoever is listening, protect Kagome, he thought.

Nearby, just inside a small wood, Sango and Miroku were talking quietly. He really looks depressed, Sango whispered.

Yeah, he does love her after all, even if he's not willing to admit it. He really loves her.

Yeah. It must be nice to have someone who will miss you that much when you're not around.

Miroku feigned a hurt expression. Hey, Sango, I would miss you that much.

Sango said. But anyway, I really miss Kagome, too. It's just not the same without her. There has to be a way to get her back.

There might me, Sango.

We're really counting on you to think of something, Miroku. You're the only hope we've got.

I won't let you down, Sango.

Sango smiled. I know. And she gave him a little hug... followed by a gigantic slap. (For reasons you can probably guess)

***

The sun was starting to set, throwing oranges and pinks across the sky. Kagura was sitting on a treebranch outside of Naraku's miamsa castle. She was gazing out into the sky. She hadn't seen Naraku in a few days, but that wasn't really ununusal. He was often gone for a long time.

However, something was bothering her. Something was wrong. She felt something. The link between her and Naraku was a strange one. And she could feel that something had changed. It was as if he wasn't there anymore.

No matter how far away he was, she could always feel his presense in some vague corner of her soul.

Now that was gone. Erased completely. It was as if he had vanished from the earth. Does that mean he's dead? she wondered.

Part of her wished that he was. Part of her wished that he would just disappear. After all, then she would be free. However, another part of her felt something different. Did she really want him gone? She had always thought she had, but now that it might actually have happened, she wasn't so sure.

Jumping down from the tree, she hurried over to the castle. Kanna had just walked outside. Kanna. Show me Naraku.

Kanna looked at her with that blank expression. She held up the mirror, and its surface started to shift. However, instead of forming a picture, it just showed mist.

What the hell does that mean? Kagura wondered.

Kanna looked at the mirror indifferently and then lowered it.

Kagura studied her The two were complete opposites, really. Kagura wanted more than anything to be free. After all, she was the wind. Kanna, on the other hand, desired nothing. She was completely indifferent to the world. Kagura had always felt a link with Naraku and his but she felt nothing from Kanna. It was as if the girl's soul was completely empty. Or, really, she didn't have one.

Kanna, come. We're going to find Naraku.

Kanna looked at her and nodded. Kagura whipped a leaf out of her hair, and they headed off.

After about a half hour of flying, Kagura noticed a familiar smell. She flew down to see what it was, because she couldn't quite place it. It was that wolf youkai prince... And he was entangled in a mess of some kind of strange tentacles. Leave him, she thought. But, then again, it might be fun to spend a few minutes taunting him...

Kouga looked up to see the woman who killed his tribe flying down toward her.

***

Sesshoumaru had finally escaped all the miamsa, but Naraku and Kagome were gone. He neaded them to get out, but something else was bothering him too. Kagome was with Naraku... Why did that bother him?

***

Naraku had grabbed a now clothed Kagome and jumped off with her quickly. Hey! Put me down! What the hell are you doing? she cried, kicking at him as best she could. But her kicks were useless. She couldn't escape. She was going wherever Naraku wanted her to go.

WELL, THIS IS DEFINITELY THE LONGEST CHAPTER I'VE WRITTEN SO FAR. PLEASE REVIEW! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE! ANYWAY, DON'T WORRY ABOUT SESSIE. HE'LL CATCH UP WITH THEM. NEXT CHAPPIE , SOME NARAKU/KAGOME, SANGO/MIROKU, AND MAYBE A LITTLE KOUGA/KAGURA? WHO KNOWS.