Disclaimer: You know already, don't own Inuyasha, sadly enough.

Chapter 16:

Kagome refused to help the hanyou find the jewel shard, for if he did he would have the almost complete jewel, besides Kohaku's and Kouga's. He twisted her arm to a point where the bone broke the skin; she let out a blood curdling scream that echoed the whole area. She was sensing the tainted shard growing nearer. Suddenly, spikes flew straight at Naraku from the forest below. Kagura dodged the spikes, which sent Kagome falling to the ground. Naraku had already left to investigate the source of the spikes. "Ahhhh!" Kagome wailed as gravity took her body. She landed, fortunately, on a bed of dried leaves, but because of the blood she lost and the stress put on her body, she passed out. 'Inuyasha, where are you?' She thought before everything became dark.

Inuyasha knew they were growing closer; he could smell the demon and Kagome. He didn't like the smell of blood that was rank in the air. He sniffed the air closely and realized it was hers. "Shit! She's hurt!" He cursed as he sped faster through the forest; Kirara was finding it hard to keep up. *Kagome, please don't give up! Not now!* The smell became stronger and he crinkled his nose.

"Inuyasha! Over there!" The monk pointed at the base of a tree.

"Kagome?!" He rushed to her side, thankful she was still alive. He cradled her in his arms and noticed how badly injured her arm was again. "That bastard, Kagome? Kagome, can you hear me?" She opened her eyes and smiled weakly.

"You came; I'm so happy, Inu....yasha...." She slumped in his arms. His eyes widened, but her heart was still beating. Inuyasha tore his inner shirt and wrapped it around her arm to stop the blood flow.

"Sango, please....could you?" Sango nodded and smiled as she took the young girl in her grasp.

"I'll take care of her, Inuyasha. Go and kill that bastard." She smirked. Inuyasha silently thanked the taijya; she nodded in return. The men then headed off to find Naraku.

Naraku stealthily stalked through the forest, watching for any movement that would give away the enemy's presence. Spikes were flung once again at him and he attacked the demon. A gigantic porcupine demon appeared and crushed the trees in its path. It sent quills at Naraku, piercing him; he cursed. 'This is the Shikon Shard.' From behind a yell was heard:

"Kaze no Kizu!" Inuyasha swung his Tessaiga at the youkai, blasting it to bits. A single sparkling shard flew out of the youkai, falling onto the ground. It was black and tainted; Inuyasha went to pick it up, but the evil aura it gave off did not permit him. "Shit." Naraku smirked at Inuyasha and went to pick it up only to find: it rejected him too.

"What is the meaning of this?!" He yelled. Inuyasha smirked and started laughing as well as Miroku. None of them could pick it up, except for one person. 'So, I needed her anyways.' Inuyasha having heard this blocked Naraku's path.

"Running again?" Naraku flung a tentacle at him, making the Tessaiga fly from his hands. "Damn you!" Inuyasha ran quickly to pick up his sword, but when he returned the hanyou was gone. "NO!" He screamed as he headed back to Kagome, knowing that Naraku was going to take her again. Miroku, figuring he couldn't keep up, waited by the shard.

"Where's....Inu..yasha?" Kagome said softly.

"Shhh, he went after Naraku. It'll be okay, just relax. You need to rest, Kagome-chan." Sango patted her head with a damp towel. She closed her eyes and nodded. Just then, Naraku jumped out of the bushes, giving no warning to the vulnerable taijya. Sango gasped as he tore Kagome from her arms. Kagome screamed in terror. "Naraku!" She screamed. "Shit!" She grabbed her hiraikotsu and hurled it at him. It grazed his shoulder, but did little damage. In retaliation he struck out a tentacle at her heart, but a fang deflected it. Inuyasha stood proud and rage was fired in his eyes.

"Put her down." He commanded, while his voice wavered between murderous and sinister. Naraku chuckled. "What the fuck are you laughing at, you bastard?"

"How pathetic you are. Here I am, holding your woman and you can't do anything. Don't you feel hopeless, weak?" Inuyasha snarled; Naraku's words were cutting into him.

"Don't listen to him, Inuyasha!" Sango called, "He's trying to bring your defenses down!"

"Shut up, human!" He yelled. Inuyasha broke out of his self-hating trance and focused on the demon.

"Let her go!" He screamed, baring his fangs. Naraku had enough and took off into the woods, miko in hand. She had passed out again from the stress. Inuyasha, in pure determination, took off at high speed after him. Naraku reached his destination, the shard. Miroku looked up with shock.

"Kagome-sama? Unhand her!" He yelled. Naraku ignored the monk's cries and laid the girl next to the shard, placing her palm up.

"Stop it!" Inuyasha screamed as he scooped the girl in his arms. Naraku cursed. What was this, tag? The girl slowly opened her eyes and smiled when she found herself in her love's embrace.

"Inuyasha?" She questioned.

"Hai, I'm here. Kagome?"

"Hmmm?"

"Do you have enough strength to purify the shard?" He asked, sincerity written all over his face.

"I think so; let me try to stand." He set her gently on the dirt, his hands out to catch her if she fell. She didn't, she stood firm, her arm dangling at her side, all bandaged up. She reached the shard and fell to her knees, placing it in the palm of her hand. Kagome had purified it.

"Inuyasha, I will be back. Make no mistake, I will complete the Shikon no Tama and you will be the first one to die by my hand."

"Keh! Wimp! You lost this battle, you bastard." Kagome felt faint again and slumped to the ground. 'I'm alright, Inuyasha....just.....take me home.' Inuyasha smiled and carefully lifted her in his arms. Miroku sighed in relief.

"Is Lady Sango alright?"

"Hai, she's just fine. Why were you worried?" Inuyasha smirked.

"Of course." He replied simply as a slight hint of pink played on his cheeks. 'I love her and I worry; it's only natural. Just how you are with her.' Inuyasha smiled at the monk, for once his comment wasn't perverted, but insightful. They traveled at a good pace to find Sango and Kirara.

AN: I hope you enjoyed it! Sorry it's taking a little while to update; I'm finding it hard to write up.....*shrug* what can ya do?