Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or any of the other cool characters in this story.

Spoilers: Up to volume 29 in the manga. If I get some feedback in favor of it, I'll post a brief summary of what has happened recently in the manga that is relevant in this story.

Chapter 2: Taken

Kagome was welcomed back to the Sengoku-Jidai by several fat raindrops that dripped their way into the well and splashed on her face and clung to her hair. "Oh great," she sighed as she began to pull herself up the side of the well. The vines were a little slippery and difficult to climb, and she wondered briefly why Inuyasha was not waiting there for her. He had been very insistent that he walk her to the well on the last trip and when they got there made her promise to come back on time, for a change. Ever since he had saved her from Naraku the last time, he had become especially protective, rarely letting her out of his sight for even a moment. She supposed that he must be worried about her and hoped it was a sign of affection. Knowing how edgy he had been and how guilty he felt about letting Naraku get to her, she had made sure she kept her promise, and had come through the well as soon as she got back from school.

She heaved her big yellow pack over the edge of the well before pulling herself over as well. She frowned slightly as she noticed Inuyasha still wasn't there. In addition, something didn't feel quite right, was setting her on edge. Suddenly, she felt vine-like things wrap around her legs, neck, and chest, pinning her arms. She felt something quickly pierce her neck and let out a small scream. She had the brief sensation of falling backwards before she lost consciousness completely.

Sango hurled her boomerang one final time at the demon, striking it full in the chest, slicing it nearly in two. As she reached up to catch Hiraikotsu, she heard Inuyasha's almost desperate yell. "Kagome!!"

Instantly his pain and fatigue were forgotten as he streaked past his companions in a red and white blur before the demon had even made contact with the ground. The monk and exterminator looked at each other, puzzled for a brief moment, both reaching the same conclusion at the same time. "We've been misdirected," Miroku said with disgust.

"Kirara," Sango called. They both climbed quickly onto the cat's back and leaped after Inuyasha. Halfway to the well they heard Kagome's strained yell and leaned forward trying to urge the cat to go faster.

They arrived at the well just after their companion, to a most unwelcome scene. The air was full of Naraku's characteristic miasma, making it difficult to see or think. Sango quickly pulled her mask while Miroku breathed through his sleeve, at the same time chanting in an effort to dispel some of the poison. Before them were Kagura and what was obviously one of Naraku's Kugutsu. The puppet had its vine-like appendages wrapped tightly about Kagome's limp form. She glowed a dim pink; even while unconscious her body was attempting to purify the miasma that filled the air.

Inuyasha was snarling in front of his companions, looking as if he desperately wanted to tear something apart. "Bastard! Let her go!"

The Kugutsu smiled slightly and ignored Inuyasha's demand. "You people may have taken care of my offspring quicker than expected, but it seems to have done its job."

Glancing at the hanyou, she saw what the Naraku meant. Inuyasha had huge lacerations in his side and his torso was torn open from where the last blow had caught him. Blood was beginning to pool around his feet and she could see it running down his claws as well. He was shaking now too, but Sango couldn't tell if it was from the loss of blood or rage. He seemed torn between attempting to slash the puppet to pieces and holding back in order to avoid hitting Kagome. "Let her go!" he yelled again, sounding even more desperate and enraged.

"No," replied Naraku, "I believe I'll hang on to her. There are some interesting things I would like to try with her."

Inuyasha let out a tremendous roar as he finally sprang at the puppet, claws first, though he still held the Tetsusaiga in his other hand. Though under normal circumstances Inuyasha would have caught it with no problem, his massive wounds slowed him and the puppet was able to easily sidestep the attack. In response, viney tentacles lashed out and struck him again, one pushing all the way through his shoulder. Kagura had stepped up when Inuyasha attacked and sent her wind blades flying at the rest of the party. Miroku was furiously swinging his staff and Sango used her boomerang as a shield against the blades.

Naraku glanced at Inuyasha, who was struggling to regain his feet. "Kagura," he commanded, and in a moment Kagura had thrown the feather from her hair and was on top of it. A swarm of Naraku's demons arrived as she pulled the Kugutsu holding Kagome on beside her. "Go."

As Kagura sped off, the hoard of demons attacked in one massive wave. Inuyasha managed to pull himself up into a crouch and Sango, Miroku, and Kirara came up beside him. "Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha yelled as his sword released a blinding flash of energy. The demons were torn up by the wave, all of them disintegrating in an apparent chain reaction. Abruptly, all the demons were destroyed and the sound of the rain in the trees filled the air again. The shouki was beginning to dissipate as well.

The group turned quickly at the sound of a muddy thud. Inuyasha had collapsed into the mud, water and blood were already beginning to collect in the imprint he had made. Even without close examination, it was obvious the hanyou's injuries were very severe. They rushed to his side and turned him onto his back. As Miroku brought his hand away his eyes widened at the amount of blood on it. He brought his head close to his friend's, praying that he was still breathing. He could hear slow shaky breaths and as he kept his head down a faint whisper.

"…kago…me…"

Next to him Sango glanced up at the murky sky. "We can't follow them…," she began. Her face was streaked with rain and held a tormented look.

Miroku nodded resolutely. Without Inuyasha, they had no idea how to find which way Naraku had gone, and in any case, they could not abandon their friend in this condition even if they had any hope of pursuit. "Let's get him onto Kirara and back to Kaede." 'Hang on, Kagome,' he thought sadly.

"We'll save her. We'll take care of both of them," he said, trying to reassure Sango, though in fact, he couldn't remember ever feeling so helpless.

Flying swiftly back to Naraku's newest fortress, Kagura glanced back at the miko, still held tightly by the Kugutsu. The girl had been sedated using a poison pried from the knowledge of the young youkai exterminator in Naraku's possession. It had been selected specifically for its potency against humans to insure that her miko powers would not be able to fight it as she could Naraku's shouki. She should sleep for quite some time.

She couldn't help but feel slightly edgy so close to the girl. Kikyou, before Naraku had destroyed her again, could have killed Kagura and her siblings on a whim, and Kagome, as her reincarnation, had at least the same potential, even if she lacked Kikyou's training. She had seen first hand the power of Kagome's purifying arrows, and was not interested in being close by if the miko ever got her power under control.

That, undoubtedly, was the reason Naraku had sent the Kugutsu and herself to collect the girl. Since the incident in which Kagome had destroyed most of his body with one of her arrows, Naraku had always avoided direct contact with the girl, choosing instead to send his offspring or using others like Kohaku, Tsubaki, and most recently the Shichinintai.

Thinking of the monster most recently felled by Inuyasha and his group, Kagura frowned at the ease at which Naraku sacrificed his offspring. She knew all to well that he would not hesitate to destroy her if it was in his interest.

His recent actions and commands puzzled her, but of course he offered her no insights into his plans. He did not trust her. He had tried to control the miko before and failed. What did he have in mind for this time? Assuredly he wanted the last of the shards, and if he could find a way to use the miko's eyes, that would shorten the search. But Kagura knew that destroying Inuyasha remained a top priority in her master's mind. Even if his feelings for Kikyou were purged after his transformation at Mt. Hakurei, he still held his vendetta for Inuyasha and the girl.

Her thoughts wondered back to the other prisoner she had taken lately. Whatever Naraku had planned, it appeared he wanted to take care of all of his enemies in one blow.

This is my first fic, so please review. I'd love to get some criticism.

-Aiwen