For the record, I do not own Inuyasha nor the characters. So don't sue me, I have no money.

~~~

Two weeks had passed since Kagome met with her mother. She had convinced Inuyasha that they had to go back to her home and get Souta out of there. Inuyasha agreed, and they had traveled since then. Nothing really that special happened in the relationship--it wasn't moving too fast, and Kagome liked that. In all of this, Inuyasha had kissed her lips at least four times, and not romantically, just to show her that he loved her and would protect her.

"Thank God, we're almost there." Kagome mumbled as she clung to Inuyasha's neck.

"Yeah, I don't know how much more my back can take. I've been carrying since we left this morning."

"So I'm fat?!" Kagome grabbed his ear with one of her hands and tugged on it.

"OW! No, I'm only joking around!" He tried to give off his innocent smile.

Kagome couldn't help but giggle some at how cute he looked and nodded, burrying her face into the back of his head. She was kind of glad that they were returning back to her house, she could finally be able to save Souta, even if that meant him living with a half-demon. They walked out of the clearing and onto the streets. Kagome's eyes widened as she slid off of Inuyasha's back. The town was a disaster. Houses were destroyed, there were cracks in the road, and water was filling an area due to a broken fire-hydrant. Kagome looked around and saw her house. Her heart raced inside of her chest fastly as she saw how run-down it looked--even worse than when she left it. The windows were broken, and the roof was almost caved in.

"S-Souta!" Kagome took off for the house as Inuyasha followed her. Kagome got to the edge of the drive-way when an explosion happened and caused her to look away. She and Inuyasha both coughed and fanned the dust away from their eyes, mouths, and noses.

"Nee-chan!" A small voice from above yelled.

Kagome's fear only quickened as she recognized the voice. She looked up to see a white baboon holding onto her little brother. She growled and started to run, but was stopped by Inuyasha grabbing onto her arm.

"Inuyasha, let me go! That thing has Souta! I have to help him!"

"Kagome, don't!"

"Why not?!"

"Because..." the babboon began, "I'll kill this child if you do."

Kagome glared up at the being and spoke calmly. "What do you want with him?!"

"You know what I want, girl."

"I do not!"

"Ah... so they didn't tell you." A smirk came across his face behind the baboon mask.

Kagome's anger was rising. She could see the tears falling down Souta's cheeks as the boy's eyes were wide in fear. "Tell me what?" She asked coldly and calmly.

"Higurashi's have something called... the Shikon no Tama. I'm surprised you haven't stolen it from her... Inuyasha."

Inuyasha now started to glare. "Naraku..."

Naraku's smirk stayed. "Ah, so you finally recognize me. Anyway, why didn't you tell her that after I killed your precious girlfriend, that one of that girl's ancestors took possesion of it? You could have used it to become a full-demon."

"Shut up already! Tell me what the hell you want!" Kagome screamed at him.

"I'll trade you: bring me the Shikon no Tama and I'll let your brother live. You have one week. Try to enjoy it."

Naraku jumped back and vanished with Souta in his arms. Kagome stood there, looking down at the ground with thoughts racing through her mind. **Shikon no Tama... Inuyasha's old girlfriend... Souta gone... One week... Oh God...** Kagome looked up at Inuyasha.

"I'll ask questions later, right now we have to--"

"Ka...go...me..." A weak voice called out.

Kagome turned her eyes back to the house and saw the body of her father, barely moving around. Kagome hated the man, but it was her father. **And he might be able to tell me something...** She ran over to his body and pulled his head up into her lap.

"Dad, what happened?"

"That... monster attacked... he's destroyed the whole city... Shikon no Tama... your grandpa gave it to some... monk... but... he died and passed it down... to his son... find his son... Kagome... I'm so sorry I couldn't... have been a better dad... save... Souta..." He seemed to mouth an "I love you" but Kagome wasn't sure. The man went limp in his daughter's arms as he breathed his last breath.

Kagome closed her eyes as she hugged his head to hers. She pulled back and rested his body back down onto the ground.

"Come on, Inuyasha... let's find this stupid monk and save my brother."

"But, do you know where she should even start looking?"

"No... but we'll find him, I know it. Now, come on."

This time, Kagome didn't bother getting onto Inuyasha's back. They walked side-by-side. Inuyasha kept his eyes on her sometimes, having concern for her. But Kagome's face was masked with emotions: anger, hurt, confusion... but, no matter what, he would try his best to help her.

~~~

Kagome released an annoyed sigh. That was the fifth place they went to on finding anything about a monk who was given the Shikon no Tama. Inuyasha sat on rock while Kagome sat on the ground, looking at a map of where they should go next. A jingle of rings against a pole caused Inuyasha's sensitive ears to perk up.

"Hmm?" He looked to the right to see a man dressed in black and purple coming in their direction.

Kagome let out a small gasp.

"What is it?"

"I don't know... but I sense something... something big..." She looked up at Inuyasha but saw that he was looking to the right and she looked in that direction, too. Burried within his cloak, she saw a glowing bright light.

"Inuyasha... do you see that?"

"See what?"

"That light..."

"What light?"

"The light in his damned cloak!"

By then the man had gotten close enough to hear them.

"Ah, you can see what I carry?"

Kagome looked over the man.

"Yes, I can. And I'm guessing what you have is what I'm sensing. Why don't you pull it out and show us?"

"Well, uh... I have been known to take up a challenge like that with women, but not with other men around..."

Kagome's face turned red as she fumed. "I don't mean pull that out, you idiot!! Pull out that stupid bright light thing in your cloak!"

Inuyasha blinked, not knowing what Kagome's problem was. **A... "that"?** "Kagome, what's a 'that'?"

Kagome burried her face in her hands and groaned. Was Inuyasha this stupid?!

"I believe she means the 'that' that makes us men."

Inuyasha tilted his head.

Kagome couldn't take it anymore. "Your dick, you idiot! Your penis! Manhood! How more simple can I make it?!"

"Oohhh..." Inuyasha said innocently. Then thought for a second. "Hey! Don't you dare think of showing her that... thing of yours!" Inuyasha blinked as the man was no longer infront of him, but now behind Kagome, patting her on her bottom.

Kagome shrieked and turned around to slap him, but he dodged the blow and smirked. "Aw, come on. I was having fun."

Inuyasha growled now. "Do not have fun with my girlfriend!"

"Well now, a man has his needs..."

Inuyasha started to argue with the man and he argued back, but calmly. Kagome sighed and rolled her eyes. Damn it, that stupid light was annoying her! She growled and stood infront of the man, going through his cloak and finding a circular thing. She pulled it out and it glowed in her hands, brightly.

Kagome stared at it in awe. She whispered "Shikon... no Tama..."

The man blinked. "How did you know? Unless... you're a Higurashi?"

"Yes... Higurashi Kagome... who're you? The monk?"

"Yes, I am. My name is Miroku."

"Good. Wow, one day and I've found this thing already! Now I can--HUH!?" Kagome's face turned red. Miroku was standing behind her, rubbing her bottom again. "You dirty..." She tightened her fist up and punched him in the head. Miroku doubled over, holding his head.

"Okay, now how do we find out where Naraku is?" Inuyasha asked, crossing his arms. Miroku rubbed his head and looked up at the two.

"Did you say Naraku?"

Kagome blinked and nodded. She then told him about their situation.

"I see. So, I'll come with you two."

Kagome glared. "Touch me again, and I'll kill you."

Miroku laughed and nodded.

"But still, we don't know where he is!" Inuyasha finally said.

"I know someone who does." Kagome responded. The three then began their journey back to the forest.

~~~

Gah, I'm so sorry this took so long! x.x Forgive me. Anyways, hope you enjoyed.

---Kaoru.