Chapter 4: The Night-Time Rescue Squad

Disclaimer: I don't own InuYasha, for the fourth time said!

A/N: This chapter has a little bit of fluff. Enjoy it all you can! (I'm being nice to you, you know.)

With InuYasha

The dog demon darted here and there through the trees, trying to find Kagome without using his nose. The last time he'd tried, he'd nearly puked from smelling the sickly sweet smell that mingled with Kagome's natural scent.

Finally, the hanyou temporarily gave up. Flopping on the ground in despair, he looked at his surroundings. For once, he wished he had someone to talk with, even evil InuYasha.

Suddenly, InuYasha heard and smelt another scent. Looking up, he saw many green-clad figures, ten in all. They were all very short, but what they lacked in height, they made up in cheerfulness, for they chanted some weird song:

We are the night-time rescue squad,

We help save people from the bad guys,

No matter whom the damsel in distress is,

Whether it's a hanyou, a demon or a human,

We will save!

The little green men stopped before InuYasha, who was finding it hard to keep a straight face. The leader, as tall as a dwarf, stepped up front, bowed and said, "Greetings, my friend. You seem troubled indeed. Is your loved one stolen?"

"What would you know about it?" InuYasha snapped. "Anyways, yes, but she's just a friend of mine," he hastily added. He didn't want these stupid human beings to get the wrong idea about him and Kagome.

"This sounds like a job for the night-time rescue squad, doesn't it?" the leader said, winking at the rest of his troop. "Shall we help you, then?"

InuYasha was about to deny, but he suddenly stopped himself. Eleven people facing Naraku was better than one hanyou. Anyways, how bad could they be?

"Alright, you can help. Even though I can handle this guy by myself," InuYasha replied after ten minutes of thinking.

"Yay! Come on, friends, this is a big opportunity to show we can fight well!" cheered a certain dwarf in the group.

"Shut up, Sherfir. Let's just get going," another man said.

Big opportunity to show we can fight well...? It sounds like they can't actually fight well at all, InuYasha thought, feeling he was doomed if they really couldn't fight.

While the evil InuYasha chuckled with glee at InuYasha's last thought, angelic InuYasha retorted, "Have some faith in them at least. Maybe they're just joking."

Somehow, I don't think so, InuYasha thought again as he set off on his journey again with the green men...

With Sango, Shippo and Miroku

"Miroku, Shippo, wake up," Sango's voice floated above the two.

"Wha...? What's happened, Sango? A demon's after us again?" Miroku was up in an instant, groping around for his staff.

"No," Sango's lip trembled. "Kagome and InuYasha have disappeared yet again. I can't find them anyway." And with that, she burst into tears.

Shippo was still dozing, so Miroku smacked the kitsune gently. "Wake up, Shippo. Kagome and InuYasha are gone."

"How can you say that so calmly? As if it's everyday life they disappear?" Sango sobbed.

"Well...it is kind of like everyday life," Miroku admitted, and received a slap from the demon exterminator.

With Kagome

"Aaagh, you stupid demon! Get off me!" Kagome squirmed around, trying to get free of the bonds that held her down. "Eventually, InuYasha will come and get me. He'll kill you, too!"

"Yes, but first, I'll need a little something off you..." an evil voice laughed. "You'll be the bait, and I'll be the killer. How's that sound?"

"Not good at all," the girl mumbled...

With InuYasha

The dog demon was still on his way through the forest. The leader of the night-time rescue squad had persuaded him to sniff Kagome out. He had already puked once. Now he felt like doing it again.

He would already be there if these stupid human beings would at least quicken their pace. Kagome could already be dead, and he had sworn to himself that he'd never let anyone else hurt the people he loved.

At the beginning of dawn, the party reached their destination. A huge castle towered over them, making the tiny men look like babies in comparison to the castle. And InuYasha? He felt like a dwarf himself.

Finally the eleven entered the castle. They found themselves in a huge hallway, with beautiful bamboo walls and bamboo mats. Even the dwarf called Sherfir, who had been talking ever since the journey had started, was silent. Kagome's scent was practically calling out to InuYasha. Without another word, InuYasha began to use her scent again for directions. The leader beckoned everyone else to follow.

The hanyou finally stopped before a huge door labelled 'Master Room'. Taking a deep breath, the leader went in first, much to InuYasha's disapproval. Everyone else crowded in through the door, hoping that nothing bad would happen.

Inside the room total darkness met each of the people's eyesight. InuYasha, who had SOMEHOW developed a cat's eyesight, switched to cat-eyesight mode.

A huge, ugly demon was just standing there, chuckling away. InuYasha immediately saw Kagome on the floor, all tied up. She was breathing, but she looked like she had passed out or was sleeping. The sickly sweet smell was washing all over him now. He felt like sneezing, but strictly held himself back. He didn't want that sneezing thing to betray him again.

"He he, InuYasha, we meet again," the demon said, flexing his claws and grinning, showing blood-stained teeth.

It certainly was a reunion, as InuYasha immediately recognised the demon to be the one that had wanted the Shikon shards from Kagome. Looking in panic at Kagome, the hanyou saw the Shikon jewel, fused together, still hanging from her neck. Obviously Kagome's miko powers had protected the demon from taking the Shikon jewel. Sighing in relief, InuYasha began to growl to intimidate his opponent.

"Dominant, aren't we?" the demon mocked. "Never mind, as soon as I've dealt with you and you little helpers, I'll get the Shikon jewel from your woman."

"She's not my woman, so shut up!" InuYasha roared, and aimed a punch at the demon.

"Ah, I've a little surprise for you, I'd almost forgotten," the demon grinned. "Before I show you your little gift, however, I will tell you that my name is Kigiaru."

InuYasha and his little dwarf companions couldn't help but watch with fascination and curiosity as Kigiaru took a tiny jar filled with a strange green liquid. Opening it, he put a peg on his nose and grinned as the liquid slowly began to disappear.

"NO!" Kagome shouted. "Cover your nose, InuYasha!"

The dog demon, however, was too slow on the uptake. He suddenly caught a whiff of Naraku's stench and stepped back. The smell was intoxicating the whole room.

The ten little men, however, were not the least bit scared. Being human beings, they could not smell the liquid as well, but they still had a tiny whiff of it. Everyone began stumbling around moaning and holding their noses.

"Half-breed, this stuff comes from your woman's body," the evil Kigiaru laughed. "Since you enjoy her presence so much, I suggest you have some of her scent!"

Kagome was on the ground, watching everything in horror. She wanted to help, of course, but she was bound too tightly by ropes. Finally, she used her miko powers and decided that she'd purify the Shikon shard (A/N: I'm making this up, ok?).

The more the young girl purified the shard, the more Kigiaru seemed to have realised what he'd done. Dropping onto the floor in despair, he quickly cleared the room of Kagome's b.o. After doing so, he dropped to the floor once again before InuYasha's feet and began sobbing loudly.

"Oh, WHAT have I done to all the poor innocent people in this world? Please, please forgive me, I'm so sorry."

It was hard for Kagome and the night-time rescue squad to keep a straight face as InuYasha looked stoned, trying to say something.

"Fine, but I think I'll have Kagome back," InuYasha growled, trying to sound all tough. "And I'll need that Shikon shard you carry."

"Alright, alright, take whatever you crave," Kigiaru wailed. "Tomorrow I must go to the god's shrine and ask them for forgiveness of what I've done wrong."

Everyone but the hard-hearted hanyou cheered, even Kagome, who was still bound in ropes.

Finally everything was sorted out. InuYasha had claimed the Shikon shard the demon once possessed, Kagome was free and clinging to his arm, the demon had gone to worship the gods and all the green little men were giving each other high-fives and dancing around the room like drunkards.

"Well, we're going to go, then," InuYasha said. "And no thanks to YOU, you useless squad of green kimonoed idiots."

Kagome gave InuYasha a stern look and mouthed the word 'sit', therefore silencing the hanyou. She bowed to the dwarves. "Thank you very much; I am grateful you also came to my rescue."

Before the leader could say anything InuYasha said gruffly, "Alright, we're going then." Picking Kagome up onto his back, he deserted the suddenly angry green men in the dark room. Kagome stifled a laugh; it was kind of funny in a way that she could actually control Naraku with the Shikon Jewel. The dog demon, sensing her happiness, relaxed a little.

The pair landed in a tree. Kagome lay against InuYasha's chest, suddenly weary of all that had been happening that day. InuYasha was about to go to sleep when he opened his eyes. His Kagome was staring up at him with some sort of weird goofy look. There were stars in her eyes and she was smiling happily.

"InuYasha, I've always wanted to say this," she said, snuggling up to him for warmth. "I-I love you. I've always wanted to confess to you, but now I have the courage to." With that she fell silent again.

InuYasha was stoned for the second time. He loved her too, but he still wasn't ready for this kind of confession. Well, there's only one option left, he thought. Closing the space between them, his lips met hers.

It seemed like an eternity in this tense moment. Kagome ran her fingers through his hair and InuYasha pulled her up close. The two came up for air, and then resumed their kissing period. The second kiss was much more passionate; they were both engrossed in the moment.

And hiding behind a tree, a figure smiled and thought: My plan will succeed. Mistress Kikyo will be very happy with me. I will make sure the dog idiot dies by his lover's hands.

With that, the spy slid away from the scene, unnoticed by the two lovers.

Shippo and Miroku (Sango, at a hot spring)

"InuYasha and Kagome sitting in a tree,

K-I-S-S-I-N-G..."

"Shippo, be quiet. You know that none of them will ever confess that they actually like each other," Miroku began to walk towards InuYasha's favourite tree. Kagome and InuYasha had been gone for two days now.

He finally stood up and clenched his fist. He would make sure they found the two by tomorrow.

A/N: No cliffhanger this time, you guys are so lucky. Anyways, there's a new challenge for you. I know you might not think my story is good, but for my fans I am on a school trip for a week. I'm not allowed to update for 5 days! Anyways, this chapter has been reposted. Please review!

CrystalMoonsword