1 Shippou bounded after Kagome, on their way to bathe in the hot springs when he sensed a faint youkai presence. Frightened, he ducked behind a bush before he was discovered. The kitsune cub peaked through the leaves in time to see Kagura pinch Kagome's neck and she went limp.
"I don't know why Naraku wants you, instead of simply killing you," the wind witch complained. "Stupid human." With that she stepped back on her feather and carried Kagome off into the darkening night.
Shippou ran out of his hiding spot when he saw it was safe, grabbed up Kagome's clothes that she hadn't had time to put back on, and ran as fast as his little legs would carry him back to the camp.
"Oi, runt! Whatcha running off with Kagome's clothes for?!" Inuyasha yelled, plucking the cub up by his tail. He'd decided to go for a walk in the woods to work off some steam, and decided that the hot springs would be a pretty place to walk around.
"Aaah! Inuyasha! You gotta help Kagome!" Poor Shippou was struggling to get free.
"Help her what? Sit me? Feh!" He let the cub down.
"No! Kagura kidnaped her, stupid!" Shippou threw the pile of clothes at his face. "She came and just plucked her out of the water! We gotta go save her!"
"Oi, c'mon, Shippou. We gotta get the others."
Inuyasha grabbed at the clothes, inhaling the sweet scent they gave off when he felt the bump in the middle. Well, at least they didn't get the shards. How did this happen? Why didn't I smell her coming? Why didn't Kagome at least scream? I woulda heard he scream! Ooh, I knew something bad was gonna happen today! He kept up the mental barrage on himself as they ran back to the campsite, where Miroku and Sango where just about to fall asleep, a little closer than normal he noticed somewhere in the back of his mind.
"Miroku! Sango! Get your stuff together, we're goin!" Inuyasha started yelling before he even came in sight of them.
"Inuyasha, what is troubling you?" Miroku asked, his voice full of concern though his eyes were following Sango as she went behind a bush to change into her slayers outfit.
"Kagome's been kidnapped. Now hurry up and get goin!" With that, Inuyasha was off back to the hot spring to try and pick up her scent and track them. The trail head northwards..and up. He wouldn't be able to track her through the air, but he could certainly well try! This was Kagome's life on the line here!
- - - -
Kagome woke up slowly, feeling more than slightly dizzy. She felt strong arms wrapped around her protectivly and relaxed into the embrace. "Inuyasha? Where are you taking me?" she mumbled sleepily.
"Heh heh heh..." The deep throated chuckle brought her fully awake with a scream. "Inuyasha will soon be no more."
"Naraku! How'd I get here? Let me go!" Kagome struggled against his hold, trying to gather her miko energies to force her way free.
"Ah, poor little Kagome. So weak and defenseless without your powers. I gave you a potion that will block out your miko energy until I give you the antidote. Which I doubt that I shall do. And don't think your hanyou lover will be coming to rescue you. I had you flown in, there is no way for him to track you!"
They'd reached the end of the long and dark corridor. Naraku pulled a key out of his pocket and unlocked a barred door, throwing her into the back wall of a small cell room. He followed slowly, enjoying the site of her scrambling away from him in fear. He reached out and grabbed Kagome by her wrists and shackled them together from chains hanging down from the ceiling. Naraku then grabbed the other end of the chains and pulled, so that she dangled a good 2 feet off the ground. Naraku turned around and slowly left the cell, locking the door behind him. Kagome shivered from the cold where she hung, yelling as loud as she could, "Damn you Naraku! Inuyasha will come for me! I know he will!" At least, I hope he does, after all those 'sit's, she amended silently as a tear wound its way down her cheek.
- - - -
Two days later the group was paused by a shallow spring, waiting for Inuyasha to come down from the treetops with hopefully some idea as to where they were going. He landed lightly in front of their little group and looking at their sad and worried faces, he didn't have the heart to tell them he'd lost the track early yesterday afternoon.
"It's this way," he said gruffly and was about to launch himself racing back into the trees when he felt a small tug on his pants.
"Wait a minute, Inuyasha. We're going round in circles!" Shippou pointed out one of his crying mushrooms leading a trail of them out of, and back into, the clearing.
"Feh!" Inuyasha crossed his arms over his chest. "So I made one mistake. I got it this time."
"Inuyasha, if you don't know which way it is, perhaps we should sit for a moment figure out the best way to track down Naraku's castle." Miroku spoke quietly from his seat on a rock, holding his injured arm while trying to ignore the pain.
"Besides, we need to rest." Sango glanced at Miroku's wound. "We week humans can't keep going as long as you can."
"We don't have time for resting now! Who knows what that bastard could be doing to her? The longer we wait the more danger she's in!"
"How do you expect us to be able to fight Naraku if we're collapsing from exhaustion before we even get there? I know we have to hurry, Inuyasha. We're just as worried about Kagome, she's our friend too!" Inuyasha inwardly winced a bit at Sango's hurt tone. "We'd do best by her to be at full fighting capability when we get there. Naraku's taken her for a reason and he's not just going to hand her over with a nice shiny bow in her hair!" Sango imitated the hanyou, crossing her arms and glaring right back.
"Feh!" With that said, Inuyasha glared at everyone for good measure and jumped onto a low hanging branch, guarding the camp while the others got a fire started and set up camp for the night.
Sango walked over to the spring to get some water to boil for their ramman. Thankfully, Kagome had brought an extra supply with her back from her last trip to her world as a surprise for Inuyasha, but now they all shared it so they didn't have to waste energy hunting for food. She filled the kettle and set over the fire to boil and sat next to Miroku. She could tell he was also worried about what was going to happen to their friend - he hadn't tried to grope her once though she'd left him many opportunities. Hey, just because it was inappropriate didn't mean she couldn't enjoy it once in awhile, right?
"Do you think we'll be able to find her in time?" She asked the monk worriedly.
"Don't worry, Sango. We'll get there in time." In time for what, though? they both worried. The monk filled the cups with water and passed them up to everyone. Shippou took an extra one up to Inuyasha in his tree, knowing it was his favourite food.
"Keh. Thanks, runt." Inuyasha took the cup and just stared at it moodily. Sensing it might be safer to leave him be, Shippou ran back down and sat with Kirara, confidently reassuring the fire neko that everything would work out fine. They quickly finished eating and lay down to sleep. Inuyasha finally gulped down his rammen and settled down to wait for the morning. There would be no sleep for him until Kagome was safely back.