Oops. In that previous chapter, it should have been "..and pattED Kagome's shoulder" not pattered. Sheesh, can't type anymore these days. I'd fix it directly on the file, but I'm too lazy.

Another quick note. In case I forgot this detail and said there were any shards of the Shikon lying around, there aren't supposed to be. Not at this point in the story, anyway. (Or perhaps not at all..)

Disclaimer: Rumiko Takahashi owns Inuyasha. Not me.



What's with Inuyasha? I was just teasing him.

Kimiko jogged down the path, only half minding where she was going. The others should have just about finished packing up. It was as I'd ticked him off. Not that it would really surprise me; Inuyasha has a pretty short temper, especially when he's low on sleep. We're all a bit low on sleep.

She leaped over a rotting, fallen tree speckled with fungi and moss. I don't get it. He's been so testy lately. I suppose it's because this kidnapping job is taking too long. That, and now the wolf youkai tribe will be after us, and Inuyasha's been eager to draw their blood. Always has. Damn men and their pride.

Or it could be the girl. She is different from the others. She is weak, true, but there is an inner strength to her, that perhaps there was not in the others. Or perhaps it is that she hides her inner strength, and tries to protect herself, that she appears weak. She leaped up into a large tree and surveyed the surroundings quickly, then jumped back down. She is a nice girl, and I think we might almost be friends, if we were not her kidnappers. Perhaps…

"But no, not for Inuyasha." She smiled sadly and stopped at the edge of a cliff. "He would not be happy."


"Get on, wench." Kagome blinked and looked up; the shadow that had fallen over her belonged to Inuyasha.

"What?"

"I said, get on." He turned around and crouched, arms extended backwards.

"Oh." She got up shakily to her feet, and carefully stepped up behind him.

"Just remember not to choke me this time," he snapped. He wrapped his hands firmly under her knees and started off onto the path, followed by the other members of the ragged group.

Why… why aren't I pissed off? This is taking too long, and while I did want to tick off that damned Kouga, he's got his tribe hunting ours. Not that it really matters, we'll just wipe 'em off the face of the earth.

But that's not the point. I don't get it. I don't feel angry at all. I feel… content. Why?

A strange scent tickled his nose; it was hers, he realized. He breathed in; she smelt faintly of flowers and something sweet, that he simply couldn't place his finger on. It was a comforting smell, and seemed to ease a little of the anger that he held onto.

Somehow… this feels right.

Feh. What am I saying? Stupid girl. I'll be glad when she's gone.

Right then, Kagome's head fell gently into the curve between his shoulder and his neck, her breathing soft as she fell asleep, completely exhausted.

Golden eyes softened. (meep! It's fluff! Well, kinda)


Kouga leapt easily down the mountain face, ignoring the shower of rocks and dust that slid down after him. "Where are you, mutt?" he growled under his breath. Behind him the other members of the wolf tribe clambered frantically, with occasional shouts of, "Kouga, wait up!"

I gotta find Kagome! I can't believe that useless mutt would dare to take my woman!

Adrenaline pumped through his body with his anger, heightening every sense. He could smell his wolves behind him, and the two humans, and the pathetic dog youkai. He could hear the wind rustling through the leaves of the trees below, could hear every rock and pebble that tumbled down the mountain face. He snarled. Of all these things, he still could not pick up the scent of the other dogs, or Kagome.

He leaped forward, pushing off the side of the mountain with his legs, and landed in the dirt below with a loud thump. The other wolf youkai, headed by Ginta, came to a gasping, panting stop behind him.

"Kouga… could you… please… try to… slow… down?" One of them bent over, clutching his abdomen as he panted.

He looked down at them with disdain, his own breath coming short but his mind and body still very alert from the adrenaline. "We gotta find Kagome."


"No." Lady Higurashi snapped her fan closed and shook her head.

"But you must allow me to search for her. I-" Kikyou clenched her hands into fists where she knelt before her parents.

"No. Kikyou, I will not have you out there. You are too precious to lose."

Kikyou ground her teeth, thankful that her head was bowed and so her parents could not see her face. "I will go, accompanied by however many soldiers as is necessary."

"Kikyou." Lady Higurashi's eyes burned angrily. "I said no. You will not go out there, under any circumstances. If Sango is already searching for her, and I assume that Lord Kouga will be as well, it is not necessary for you to be endangered as well. You will not go. That is my final word. You may go." She waved her fan at Kikyou.

Kikyou rose and bowed, her face stony. "As you wish," she murmured.

She strode out of the court, her head held high and her back straight.

As soon as she returned to her room, she changed out of the stiff blue kimono she had worn for her petition, and dressed quickly and carefully, pulling on a white shirt, and a bright red hakama. Her miko clothing. Nobody would question a priestess moving quietly around the castle grounds.

She tied her hair back with a simple white ribbon, slung her quiver of arrows and her longbow over her shoulder, and left her room quietly. She hurried to the stables, where she ordered her horse to be readied, and the stable hands to forget they had seen her. Then she checked to make sure she had money with her; it was safe inside a small pouch tucked underneath her shirt.

She mounted the horse and nudged it forward and out the gates.

"Kagome, my sister, hold on."


The scent of human tickled Kouga's nose. It was not that of the two humans before. But it was not Kagome's either. He frowned; only a very foolish human, or a witless one, would wander this close to the mountains. He ignored it.
"Wake up, wench."

Kagome blinked sleepily, then blushed furiously. She was still on Inuyasha's back, her arms draped loosely around his shoulders. Inuyasha let his grip under her knees relax, and she dropped a little unceremoniously onto the ground.

He looked down contemptuously at her and snorted at the slightly embarrassed and bewildered look on her face. "Stupid girl," he muttered.

Kagome blinked, then shot to her feet angrily. "I am not stupid!"

"Weak human!"

"I'm not weak, either."

"Oh yeah?"

"Yeah!"

Inuyasha opened his mouth to add his retort, but just then, a hand smacked the back of his head, and he stumbled forward a step before whipping around and glaring at the hand's owner.

Kimiko stood with her hands on her hips, looking very unimpressed.

"How dare you hit me!"

Kimiko sighed and walked right past him, patting Kagome on the shoulder comfortingly as she passed. "Just ignore him. He's such a child."

"Excuse me!" Inuyasha huffed and stalked after Kimiko. "What did you just say!"

Kimiko kept on walking. "You heard me perfectly well, Inuyasha. I said, you're such a child."

"I am so not a child!"

"A pup, then."

Some inarticulate, strangled noise was emitted from Inuyasha's throat. Kimiko smirked and whirled around. "Do be a good boy and sit down, why don't you?" She patted him on the head quickly and jumped away with a laugh before he could react.

He growled, then his eyes darted to Kagome and he stopped.


Brown eyes watched from the shadows. Waiting. Watching the wolf tribe's leader sniff the air hungrily. And burst forward.

"Hiraikotsu!"



a very short chap, sorry about that. But, it came out so much faster! Anyway, the reason is, I'm going away for the next two weeks, so I wanted to get this out since it was so nearly done. The next chap will probably end up being much longer. So, enjoy, and everybody have a great march break/reading week!