That insecurity shifted into the usual frustration of his, "What!?" Inuyasha's claws were raised upwards, and shaking in resistance to himself. The fury wanted to tear both of them limb from limb, but the tiny Myoga told him otherwise, still at his shoulder, "Calm down, Lord Inuyasha." In contrast to Inuyasha's feelings, Kagome was giggling childishly as he held herself against Hojo's chest in his arms, with an innocent smile crossing through her lips. Hojo was smiling back down upon the girl. The very joy that he couldn't have was tempting Inuyasha's rage, but continued the difficult struggle of containing himself.

In the trees from afar, someone was watching from up in the branches. Everyone was oblivious to the hidden being that picked up the information of the two in a relationship. The being spoke to himself, "So that is the girl's mate. I will make good use of that . . ." A smirk slanted his lips to one side, and the leaves were rustling loudly on his swift departure. Inuyasha instantly turned his head to the sounds, but saw no one. "Something wrong, Lord Inuyasha," Myoga asked. Inuyasha answered with a straightforward "No." The group headed back towards Kaede's, with Inuyasha leading in front, and Hojo ending the line. Everyone was without worries along their way. The obvious fact that Hojo was last and unwatched by the others, something very quick and silent ran across the fields to intercept him. The zippy, unseen figure caught Hojo with the mouth already being sealed over by the hand. Muffled sounds did not succeed in warning the others that he was being kidnapped.

Meanwhile, Miroku and Sango were besides a small brook. Sango sat on a rock combing a brush through her hair, and Miroku was kneeling besides the brook's edge collecting water with a pail. The two were very quiet amongst the harmony the surrounding nature, and felt at ease. But soon enough a voice had disturbed the peace, asking, "Are you two Miroku and Sango?" Both of them naturally turned around at the call of their names, but Miroku walked up to the man, leaving the filled pail besides the edge. The mysteriously clothed man was Xean, but they did not know him. "And what if we are," Miroku questioned with something already against him. Sango was looking on between the two men, unknowing of the danger that would immediately ensue. "I have been sent to get rid of you," Xean answered with a smirk. But that smirk quickly dropped to a shapeless and emotionless form as a rope was pulled out from his right pocket.

Not wanting to waste time, Xean decided to make quick action. The form of his body was moving to both of his sides in front of Miroku, easily leaving him confused. The monk was taken aback and at a loss on what to do. Instinctively, he raised his right arm across mid-air and opened the vacuum hole of his palm, aiming it for where Xean was standing. But before he could summon up his power, a loop passed right through and up his arm, and it tightened around his shoulder. Sango was watching with fear, seeing such speed she has never seen before easily take down the monk. She couldn't see Xean's enshrouded figure until after a second loop went up Miroku's left leg and tightened around the thigh's joint. Miroku was pushed to the floor, with his leg going up into the air and the right arm bent behind his back. Unable to save himself, the pulling of his limbs almost past their limit was causing him much pain and loud yells of agony from torment. Xean was now standing in front and facing Sango who could only see the shapeless lips underneath the shadow masking his face as Miroku's voice died down in the background. The panic and fright was preventing her from reacting to the swift fist coming around to the left side of her face. The knuckles came upon impact of her jaw line, forcing her head to turn the other way and her body falling in the same direction. She could feel the softness the ground had in comparison to the rock she previously sat on, before soon fading away from reality and into an unconscious state. The two were now being carried by Xean, one in each hand, as he headed into the nearby forest.