Demon Body, Human Heart By DemonSaya

Disclaimer: Okay, I dun own any of these characters, I'm borrowing them, and I promised that I'd return them. Well...I promised because Inuyasha's rather mad that I kidnapped them for awhile and I'm afraid he may pull out his sword and demolish me...Please don't sue me, I already have a pmsing adolescent half-demon to deal with!

Policy on Flamers: Give me Love, Peace, and Chicken Grease, and I shall give you the same. If you don't, I know lots of assassins, thieves, demons, and goddesses, that would love to hurt you if I told them you flamed ^_^

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Chapter 11: Gone Missing

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Kagome lay beside Inuyasha, her eyes fond and gentle. She hadn't felt so content in a long time. The man she loved more than anything else in either world slept behind her, his body spooned against hers, his arms possessively wrapped around her body, his silvery white hair glowing slightly pink with the rising sun. Her head was tucked under his chin and pillowed on his firm bicep. She could feel his breath stirring the tiny hairs on her neck, his heart beating against her back.

She felt as if she were a part of him.

With a fond smile, she closed her eyes, placing her hands over his, stroking his rough hands gently. He's strong...she thought, nuzzling his neck with the top of her head.

He grumbled something in his sleep and she giggled softly, lifting his hand to her face and kissing the palm before returning it to where it rested. It was hard to believe he loved her, even now, lying in his arms as she was. It just seemed impossible. After all, she was an annoying little git, right? He'd called her such himself.

She rolled towards him, nuzzling his chest with her face. Oh, she could get used to this...being in his arms whenever she wanted to, being able to kiss him without fear of being rejected. If she had done so months ago, then he would have pushed her away quickly. Now, he just returned all the emotion and heart that she poured into each.

Who would have thought a hard-hearted half-demon could be such a tender person, too?

She giggled at the thought. He had changed so much from when she'd first freed him from his imprisonment. Perhaps it was her doing, but she knew it was more of a joint effort, though he didn't realize it. She did. He really had never wanted to be like he was. He was just a lonely hanyou.

Her heart ached when she thought about him like that. Yet, she knew it was true. He had been lonely for so long, and Kagome knew that even Kikyou had never been able to fill the void completely. She hoped, however that she was filling that emptiness in him. After all, if she wasn't, then he would always be lonely.

"K'gome..." He murmured in his sleep, hugging her closer, like he was trying to pull her into him. Make her a part of him.

She smiled a bit, bringing her arms around him to return his embrace. Even if he were lonely, even with her, she would do everything in her power to take away that loneliness, the fear, as well as any insecurities he may have.

Because she knew that he still had so many fears. The fear that she would reject him, even now. The fear that she would never accept him as he was. The fear that she could love someone else. All unreasonable, of course, but she knew that he was insecure. He was insecure because everyone had called him flawed.

Kagome reached her hand towards the rosary; gently touching it, her fingers slipping over the round, rough beads. He'd worn it for almost as long as she'd known him, but she didn't want him to feel tied to her in such a way anymore. Maybe when he woke she would take it off of him. After all, he was her wild boy. He shouldn't feel like he was under her thumb.

She closed her eyes, remembering how fierce he'd been, how scary. Then again, her memories of him were always scary. This was the first peaceful memory she'd had of him. Even his first time as a human he'd managed to scare her completely. True, it wasn't a violent memory, but still scary nonetheless. After all, he'd almost died that time.

That melded in with other, more recent memories: him embracing Kikyou, him becoming a full demon, his fight against Ryutotsusei. Silently, she wondered if he was really going to tell her goodbye back then. She wouldn't have blamed him. Even at the time, she wasn't angry with him, she was just so afraid she would never see him again.

She couldn't take that. She needed to see him. He was HER Inuyasha now. Kikyou wouldn't take him from her ever. EVER. She closed her eyes peacefully, falling into a shaky doze.

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Inuyasha was awakened by a loud, annoying buzzing that made his head hurt. He glared towards Kagome's alarm clock and considered doing to this one what he'd done to it's previous incarnate. Those things were evil. After all, it woke him with an annoying noise and it was waking Kagome up as well. He could feel it in the way she shifted against him, her muscles tensing and releasing. He reached back, grabbed it, and hurled it out the window.

Kagome cracked an eye open, watching as he did so. Oh, well. She'd have to ask her mom to buy her another one. No big deal. They weren't too expensive, and besides, she knew it had hurt Inuyasha's ears. She could tell by the way they were flattened against the top of his head. His warm, golden eyes were caressing her face and she smiled up at him. "Ohayo." She said cutely.

He returned the smile, leaning down and gently caressing her lips with his. "Ohayo..." He returned the greeting, nosing at her cheek and ear. She smelled SO good. He would never get enough of this smell. He sighed, holding her still against the bed, his face peaceful. "Can we stay like this awhile longer?"

She looked over her shoulder, her eyes gentle. "Don't we have to go to your time today?"

"It can wait. I want time to stop for us...just for a little while..." He pressed his face into her shoulder, holding her against the futon gently. Kagome closed her eyes, putting her hand back and stroking his ears gently.

"Kagome!"

The voice broke through their peaceful moment. Both of them jerked upright and Inuyasha was off her bed in less than a moment. Seconds after he was across the room, Kagome's mother entered the room. "Telephone, sweetie." She looked towards Inuyasha, nodded a simple greeting, not asking questions about why he was in her daughter's room.

Kagome nodded, pulling her robe on over the clothing she'd worn on the date last night and walked downstairs, picking up the phone.

"Higurashi-san..."

Kagome closed her eyes, sighing impatiently. "Hojo-kun...it's awfully early to be calling..." She said softly, cursing the boy's timing.

"I'm sorry!" The boy blurted and she could tell he was hurting greatly. "I had no right to...to..."

Her expression softened. "It's okay. He heard, and he wasn't offended." She shook her head slightly. "But you had no right to call him what you did, and I'm very disappointed you got so hurt that you let it affect your judgment.

"He...heard?" Hojo squeaked. "You mean he was there...?!"

Kagome watched as Inuyasha came down the stairs, looking curious and confused. "He's always around, Hojo-kun, and you made him a little angry...but it's really okay. I told him. I'm going to be going out of town for a couple of days, okay, could you tell everyone at school?"

"Why?"

"Because..." She giggled softly. "I'm tired of my grandfather trying to make up fake illnesses. He isn't very good at it."

"Um...Higurashi-san..." He said softly. "Would it be alright if I...met this guy that you're in love with?"

Kagome smiled a bit. "You'll meet him someday. But I'm leaving soon, so it can't be today." She heard him murmur something that sounded affirmative and smiled. "Oh, and about the first year girl...I definitely think you should ask her out."

"Hai." His voice sounded genuinely happy that she wasn't angry with him. "Ja matta!"

"Hn." She agreed, smiling. She felt Inuyasha come towards her and wrapped her hand around his as she hung up the phone. "That was Hojo-kun...he was...apologizing to both of us." She saw the surprise in his eyes and smiled. It was good to see such emotions on his face, rather than anger. "Come on, let's go get ready."

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Less than ten minutes later, they were on their way to the well house, Kagome's huge pack being toted by Inuyasha, who looked peaceful, his eyes sneaking glances over at Kagome. He could barely believe that her mother hadn't freaked when she walked in and found him in her daughter's room. It was also probably obvious by the looks on their faces that they'd shared a bed the previous night.

He smiled slyly, sneaking a glance towards Kagome again. She was glancing at him, too and it made his smile deepen. "Oi...do you think your mom is okay with me sharing a bed with you?"

Kagome blushed slightly, hooking her arm around his. "I think she trusts you enough not to force me to do anything. Besides, she knows I love you. She's known for awhile..."

Inuyasha's eyes widened and he looked towards her in surprise. "Kagome..." His footsteps faltered, then stopped altogether, his face softening from it's normal scowl. "I...I wish I'd spoken up sooner..." He looked down. "I just didn't see how anyone could love someone like..." His voice trailed off.

She smiled, tangling her fingers with his. "I know. I do too. I don't need for you to explain...I understand...you were afraid. We both were..."

They finally reached the well, having drug their feet long enough. It was time to go back. Inuyasha chewed on his lip, lifting his eyes and looking at Kagome from under his eyebrows. Kagome looked somewhat nervous herself, but they HAD to go. She gave him a shaky smile and squeezed his hand.

"Ready?" He asked, wrapping his arm snuggly around her waist.

"Let's go..." She replied.

Into the well they went. Traveling through time always felt strange. As you fell, you could feel the wind rushing by you, and you may feel like you've fallen hundreds of feet, yet it was really only about twelve. She'd never really gotten the hang of landing on the other side and usually landed on her fanny, except when Inuyasha held her as he was now.

As they fell through time, Kagome noticed something different this time. She could almost see images in her brain. More like she was sensing future events. They were blurry so she couldn't quite make them out, but they did well to frighten her.

When Inuyasha landed, she was clinging to him, her face pressed into the fabric of his haori, shaking like an autumn leaf about to be blown from it's tree. Inuyasha looked at Kagome in concern and saw that her eyes were wide with fear. "Are you okay?" He asked gently.

She nodded into his neck, winding her arms around his neck. "I just thought I saw something while we were falling." She said softly. "Like a black cloud...and it was coming towards us..."

Inuyasha's eyes narrowed just slightly. A black cloud? That didn't sound good. In fact, that DEFINATELY didn't sound good. He scooped her around, letting her ride on his back as he bounded through the trees, bouncing from one to the next with barely a moment's pause for balance. "Don't worry, Kagome." He said, landing and jumping again. "I'll protect you."

Kagome smiled, then leaned forward, pressing a kiss to his warm cheek. "I know..." She said softly, then rested her cheek against his shoulder again.

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When they reached Kaede's hut, Kagome was glomped by an overly enthusiastic Shippou. Inuyasha watched as she spun the kit around, secretly noting how good a mother she was going to make. He watched her openly, not even trying to pretend he was looking at something else.

Sango smiled and they fawned over Shippou for awhile, till Kagome suggested they go visit the hot springs. After she collected her bath things, she went towards Inuyasha and kissed the top of his head. "We'll be back soon." She promised, smiling. "I just want a little time to talk with Sango before we head off to find Naraku again."

He nodded, looking up at her and giving her the tiniest of smiles. All it was, was the softening of the eyes, and the edges of his mouth turning up just a bit. When he was rewarded with a bright smile, it made male pride surge through him.

"Lucky dog." Shippou said in a teasing voice after the girls had left.

"Indeed." Sesshoumaru said, leaning against the wall, Rin nearby, making Jaken 'pretty' again.

Miroku was the only one who didn't pick on the dog-demon. He was too busy lost in his own depressing thoughts. When Inuyasha spoke to him, he snapped out of his daze. "Sorry, what was that?"

"I smell crows..." Inuyasha said seriously, his eyes narrowing and darkening significantly.

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Kagome had just pulled off her shoes and socks when she felt the hands grab her upper arms tightly. A soft shriek escaped her and she spun around, finding a affeminate face near hers. Her lips opened and she tried to scream, but found that her voice wouldn't leave.

Sango let out a war cry, grabbing her sword and lunging towards Naraku, who held her best friend in the world.

Yet, as she approached, she collapsed, fast asleep. A cry escaped Kagome's lips and mentally, she called out for Inuyasha, just before she heard a soft voice in her mind commanding her to fall asleep. She fought it off for a moment or two, then, slipped into sweet unconsciousness.

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When the girls woke, they were bound hand and foot, and Kagome noticed she had a little blood on her skin. She looked desperately towards Sango, who was bleeding a bit from the side of her head, obviously having been dropped much more carelessly than she herself had.

Sango struggled into a sitting position, looking around in worry. The room they were in was dark and bare, no beds, tables or even chairs. She struggled to remember what had happened before the darkness had consumed her and remember Naraku holding Kagome by her upper arms. She had lunged towards them, about to cut the hands off her friend, when suddenly...she blanked out.

She couldn't remember anything after that.

"Sango-chan..." Kagome whispered in fear. She was shaking and fighting against the ropes that bound her wrists together.

The older girl looked towards Kagome and gestured her closer. She watched her friend scoot closer and rested her head on Kagome's shoulder. "Don't worry. It's gonna be okay. We wont be here long. Inuyasha and Miroku will find us."

To Kagome, it sounded like Sango was trying to convince herself as well.

"I sent a signal." A tiny voice said from Kagome's hair.

Both of them eeped and looked back, surprised to see Shippou hiding in Kagome's hair. "Shippou-chan!" Kagome gasped in surprise.

Shippou smiled. "They'll find us for sure."

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Despite Miroku and Sesshoumaru trying to convince him they didn't sense a demon or presence nearby, Inuyasha knew something was up. Maybe there was no PRESENCE, but it wouldn't be the first time they were fooled by a demon who had no scent or youki. Like Kanna.

Because of that experience, Inuyasha knew better than to wait around and learn they were missing from a secondary source. He had taken off minutes after he'd first smelled the scent of crows. They had tried to stop him, but something else had caught his attention. Faint, to be sure, but it was there. The scent of Naraku. That had hurried him along on his path, his friend and brother having moved out of the way upon threat of being torn apart.

Inuyasha's mind raced as he headed towards the hot springs, fear tearing at his chest. Now that he was out of the village, more scents began to assail his nose. Blood, fear, and definately the scent of Naraku. He just prayed that when he reached the spring he wouldn't find pieces of the woman he loved strewn all over the place.

About ten yards from the spring, he saw them. Crows on every branch on every tree. A blanket of them, or cloud, depending on your view. To him it felt like a blanket, suffocating him with the fear of what he'd find at the springs.

As he burst through the line of trees, he called out to Kagome, his eyes wide in worry. "KAGOME?!" His eyes darted around, searching for a sign of the young girl. She wasn't there.

However, her bag lay on the ground, and there were a few droplets of blood near it. He put his hand over his mouth and fought the urge to violently empty his stomache. Without a word, he picked up Kagome's bag and held it to his face. When he finally pulled it away, there was a vengence in his eyes that plainly said that whoever did this, it didn't matter. He was going to find them...

And he was going to tear them limb from limb.

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End Part 11

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AN: So, whacha think? Good, bad, or so-so? Stay tuned next chapter for lots more stuff. I'm afraid it's about to get terribly angsty and stuff, but also alot more waffy. (You M/S fans out there, prepare yourselves and keep your eyes open, I'll put in pleanty of Miroku/Sango sap in the next few chapters!) Love to ya peeps! -DemonSaya