Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha, just the video game and the two posters I just bought… :o)

Chapter 4: Kidnapped! Maybe?

Sesshoumaru had watched the entire episode from the opposite bank. He smirked. "You do remember our appointment, monk?"

"Yes I do, Lord Sesshoumaru, but you're still early." Damn, why did he have to show up now of all times?

"I, Lord Sesshoumaru, do not have to follow time exactly."

Miroku glanced behind him and grabbed Kagome by the wrist. "Do not leave, Lady Kagome. And please do not scream. Inu—" He paused and stared at Sesshoumaru. "He will be here soon enough anyway." Miroku frowned. Kagome looked torn between clubbing him with the bowls and screaming her head off.

"Miroku, are you insane?" Kagome hissed. "Do you know who that is?" She glared at the youkai lord, who seemed amused by her tirade.

"Yes I do. He is the reason I needed to borrow your watch."

"What the hell does that mean?"

"Miroku shook his head. "No matter. We have little time. Is there any place we can go to talk? A private place?" He looked at Sesshoumaru.

The youkai lord regarded them both. The monk would not be any trouble. The miko, however… "Take off your clothes."

"HENTAI!" Kagome's hand shot out towards the youkai's face. Miroku caught it.

Sesshoumaru smothered a sigh.  God, he hated explaining himself… "Do not presume to accuse me of being interested in a worthless human. If that idiot hanyou smells you, he will follow. Business cannot be transacted with an irate hanyou screaming useless threats and attempting to fight."

Kagome started. Worthless human? I'll show you—Kagome paused. He's talked longer than any other time I've seen him…Besides, Inuyasha's called me worse… "For how long?" She finally asked.

Monk and youkai lord exchanged a glance. Miroku looked sheepish. "Ummm… all night?"

Aaah! No! I can't! "Miroku—"

"Inuyasha wants breakfast early…" Miroku suppressed a cringe. God, that was low, even for him.

Her eyes narrowed. She shook her head. "You owe me, monk… Big time…"

*****

"They were just here! What the HELL happened?" Inuyasha ranted at anyone and everyone around him. He had gotten impatient waiting for the monk and Kagome to return, so he'd gone after them. He hadn't expected to find Kagome's clothes in a heap next to the river, with a stack of clean bowls piled neatly on top of it, with no sign of either of them.

The others had followed him, just in case something might happen. Now Kirara sniffed around for any trace of their friends. Shippou whimpered in Sango's arms.  Sango petted the kitsune and glared at Inuyasha. "You should have gone after them earlier! What were you thinking?"

Kirara chose that moment to hiss and sputter.  She flared into a full-sized demon and hissed again. Inuyasha came over to her and sniffed. Sesshoumaru!

"Bastard!" Inuyasha screamed and fled after his half-brother's scent. Sango bundled up the discarded uniform and, holding Shippou close, jumped onto Kirara's back. All three headed back to Kaede's to tell her what had happened.

"Kaede-baba! Kaede-baba!" Kaede opened her door. "What troubles you, my children?"

Sango, Shippou and Kirara came at her. "Kagome's been kidnapped!" Sango shoved the younger girl's bundled clothes into the older woman's hands as she ran past Kaede towards her weapon. Shippou raced towards his adopted mother's sleeping area and rummaged in Kagome's bag for some clothes.

"What happened, child? Were they attacked? Where is Miroku-sama?"

"We don't know. Her clothes were in the riverbank, and both she and Miroku are gone. Kirara and Inuyasha smelled Sesshoumaru in the area." Sango held back a sob. Both her friends were gone… Shippou cried in earnest.

"Shippou, please don't. And stay here with Kaede-baba in case Kagome and Miroku come back."

"No!"

"Shippou, you'll be more useful if you stay here." The kitsune glared through his tears at the obvious lie. "I'll send Kirara for you if we find them. Besides, if something happens to you, Kagome will not let us hear the end of it."

Shippou paled. Success! "O*hic*okay. For Kagome."

Sango hugged the child. She glanced at Kaede over his shoulder. The older woman nodded. "I shall take care of the child. Now go and find them."

© 6/27/03, M.A.R.

Aphiopsyduck: Aiieeee! *ducks*  Guys! Guys! Let me explain! There's a logical explanation for the events mentioned here!

*looks around* *sweatdrops* Hehehe… It will all be explained in the next few chapters. Promise. Please put the—*peers into audience*  What IS that anyways? *shakes head*  Well, just put it down. Please? :o)

*small smile*  Okay. I apologize if this seems like a cliffhanger. Somehow, the chapters stop at strange places. Anyways. The mind of this writer is strange. It's taking its sweet time revealing to the audience all of the plot twists. It will become clear in a few more chapters. And yes, it IS a romance. Well, at some point it will be. :o)  I hope you bear with it.

(More or less) Permanent A/N: *sweatdrops…*  Ehehe…  First fanfic… If nothing else, it's a test run, since this will be my first real fanfic posted anywhere. I don' really know where it's going though, so please bear with me. Reviews are welcome, and flames will be used on undead mikos who refuse to leave our heroes alone. :o)