I'm sick of the disclaimers already...so I'm done telling everyone that I do not own Inuyasha, ok? Yea...I'm back! And since it's my tenth chapter, I'm celebrating with a large bowl of Ramen and Aloe Vera for my badly burned skin. Isn't that just so exciting? Yeah right...Lets get straight to the chapter, before I get flamers.

Finding What Was Lost

By: Sanci J

Chapter 10: Confused Feelings

Last Chapter...

Sango was still staring forwards until her eyes blinked numerous times. A small tear fell down her cheek. "I-I'm sorry. I didn't mean to." She covered her face with her hands.

He winced. "You shouldn't have seen that." He patted her arm awkwardly, maintaining his distance until she flew into his arms.

End of Chapter.

"Inuyasha! I have located Shippou." Kaede said, still sitting in her same spot with her eyes closed in concentration. She frowned and her face paled, her mouth tightening.

Inuyasha's eyes opened and he too frowned when he saw her expression. "What is it?" he asked harshly. "Where is he?"

Kaede swallowed but kept her eyes closed. "He is lying down in a dark room. He is in pain...his-clothes are dirtied and slashed on the sides. He is covered in bruises, and I can see he is holding his stomach. He-he-"her voice broke, and Inuyasha could tell it what she was seeing was very bad. "He's trying to hold back tears..." Her eyes opened and she stared at him, her eyes pleading Inuyasha to find Shippou.

He lowered his eyes to the fire. It was all his fault. He had been too busy with Kagome and the others that he had forgotten about Shippou. He had let his guard down, and look what happened. Shippou was in pain from torture, and could be dying because of him. Inuyasha had no right to be around them. They got hurt because they were his friends. Oh...but not anymore. He wouldn't let it happen again. He could never put down his guard. He stood. "I have to go find him. Do you know where he is?"

Kaede looked troubled and she hoped Inuyasha wasn't taking the blame for what had happened while he was gone. She stared into his eyes, but they were guarded. "I know he is with Naraku...it seemed like he was in a cave nearby, but I'm not sure."

Inuyasha turned his back on her and walked briskly to the door.

"Be careful Inuyasha!" she called out, but he was gone.

Inuyasha angrily ran straight into the forest. He caught the faint scent of blood almost right away and after tracking it down, saw some of it on a rock. He sniffed it again to be sure and grimaced. It was definitely Shippou's. He took off in the direction Shippou had gone recently and hoped he wouldn't be too late.
.


Kagome spent all day lying around in her room, staring out the window in sadness. It was still hard for her to believe that Inuyasha had left her...maybe not forever, but it did seem that way. After all, that's what he tried to do the last time. Her sadness switched to anger. She shouldn't think about Inuyasha anymore...she had warned herself plenty of the heart ache she would feel if she gave into her emotions, but no- she had gone and done exactly the opposite. And now all she could think about was Inuyasha...

Inuyasha...

His name was like a chant, blasting itself into her brain every minute. She couldn't push the picture of him holding her the night before out of her head after that bad dream. The dream...She tried to remember it, but failed to. 'What happened in my dream?' she thought, her eyes darkening. For some odd reason she thought about her friends-Shippou, Miroku, and Sango. What did they say when Inuyasha told them Kagome wasn't coming back? She could just picture Shippou becoming frantic, throwing insults at Inuyasha and crying in Sango's arms. Miroku would be exasperated, and very angry, being that this was the second time Inuyasha had pulled this stunt. He would probably start hitting Inuyasha on the head, calling him names along with Shippou, and tell him how much they needed her. Sango would be momentarily shocked, but only momentarily. Then she would start beating on Inuyasha calling him an idiot for hurting her and telling him to get back in the well to get her otherwise she would. That prospect made her smile weakly and she put a piece of bubble gum in her mouth. 'I should have taken a piece of the jewel in case this sort of thing happened again...'

She gasped when a light bulb clicked in her head. 'I wonder if it's still there...' She went into her closet and pulled out an old worn shoebox. After sitting on her bed, she tipped it over, dumping the contents out. There were old school notes, jewelry, drawings...She kept digging until she found it. A smile dawned her face, making it glow. She held it up in front of her...yep...it was a shard of the jewel. She felt overcome with sudden happiness. Now she could get back...back to her friends, the feudal era... And Inuyasha.

'Just you wait till I get back Inuyasha.' She thought and grabbed her large backpack she had carried upstairs earlier. She ran down the stairs in excitement. She was going back! Just as she reached the door, her mom saw her and knew where she was going.

"Kagome, where are you going?" Kagome glanced at the door.

"Well...I'm going to see Inuyasha and my other friends."

Mrs. Higurashi looked into Kagome's eyes, but saw little traces of sadness. "I thought you said you couldn't go back?"

"I was wrong...I can." said Kagome.

"Alright." Mrs. Higurashi said slowly. "But do you think you could wait a few hours? I was just about to go upstairs and ask if you could baby-sit Souta while I go out."

It didn't matter to Kagome. She knew she was going to go back anyway, so Inuyasha would get his beating once she found him. 'Oh, darn! I'll just have to hurt Inuyasha later.' Kagome smiled at her mom. "Ok, mom."

Mrs. Higurashi smiled too and clapped her hands together once as a finality. "Great!" She hugged Kagome warmly. "I'm glad you're feeling better dear. Souta!"

A minute later Souta pounded his way down the stairs. "Yes mom?" he asked breathlessly, his dark hair ruffled about.

"Kagome is going to stay with you until I get back from conferences, which should be in a few hours. Okay?" She bent down and hugged Souta, giving him a noisy kiss on the cheek.

"Mom! I'm too old for that remember?" Souta whined, wiping his wet cheek with the sleeve of his blue shirt.

Mrs. Higurashi laughed. "I know."


Sango buried her head in his shoulder, seeking warmth and comfort. As her head lay on his shoulder, she noticed he hadn't done anything, just stood there. Then it hit her and she blushed. 'What am I doing?' She gulped, and loosened her death grip on his upper arms, which were very muscular. She was sorely tempted to squeeze them, but she didn't. She let go quickly, pushing him away. Right then Picura got a grip on her and shoved her to the floor. Sango gasped in surprise as she felt the hard ground meet her back and her posterior. 'Why the heck did he do that? I moved away.'

Picura stared at her, his gray eyes suddenly showing hidden gold specs as they darkened. He walked towards her and bent down until he was right in front of her face. He then ran a finger down her right cheek and she shivered, backing away.

'What is he doing?' Sango stared at him and the wicked smile that widened. Why was he looking at her this way? It made her vulnerable. She had no protection if he was going to try something. But for some reason, he didn't seem so bad and evil. She felt meticulously drawn to him...and why? She couldn't answer that. His face leaned in, his eyes holding their steady gaze on her and she felt panic and apprehension drumming through her body. What-he was going to kiss her! She turned her head away. "No, Picura." She said stiffly.

He stopped moving and glared at her, his beautiful colored eyes turning back to that boring gray.

'Miroku would never have tried to do that.' She thought to herself. "What's wrong with you Picura?" she exclaimed, touching her still mildly injured leg.

"You're the one that threw yourself at me wench." He growled.

Sango's temper rose, but she ignored him, going back to her mat. She laid down facing the wall. 'I am so stupid...I can't believe I just threw myself at him like that. No wonder he acted the way he did...he probably doesn't know how to comfort others. I should have held myself back, for when I see Kagome again. Usually I can talk to her about my problems, but she isn't here...and Miroku. That-that idiot! I can't believe he kissed that evil witch like that! I can't believe he kissed her at all! Does he like her that much? Even more than me? It seemed so.' She scolded herself for thinking about Miroku that way. 'What am I thinking? I don't care about Miroku.'

This situation reminded Sango of Kagome, Inuyasha, and Kikyou. She felt exactly how Kagome felt when she saw Inuyasha and Kikyou kiss. Even though Sango hadn't known them then, Kagome had told her every detail. 'That was a little before I met them when I had been deceived by Naraku into thinking that Inuyasha had butchered my family and village. Naraku, the evil half- demon who had also been known as Onigumo before he was possessed by demons. I had to avenge my family and people so I banded together with the others to hunt down the pieces of the Sacred jewel shards before Naraku could get them all and then destroy him.'

Sango heard a movement behind her, and she forced herself to remain motionless. Hearing light footsteps departing the cave, she exhaled. 'I wonder what will happen when Miroku notices I'm gone.' She snorted. 'He's probably too wrapped up with that witch to even notice where Shippou or I might be. She caught her breath as she thought of something. 'I am so stupid! I could have used Picura's sword to help locate Shippou. What's wrong with me? I should have thought of that a while ago.'


Picura didn't really know why he abruptly left his cave like that. He was just so agitated and annoyed with the wench. 'I should have killed her already. That would be one less problem on my hands.' He walked around for a couple minutes thinking about Sango. The girl was somewhat of a mystery. She was too self-confident for her own good, thinking he wouldn't hesitate to kill her.

He grinned wickedly when he remembered the look in her eyes when he trailed his finger seductively down her cheek. 'She can barely resist me...she wanted me to kiss her...and I will, but first she has to be willing enough. After that human broke her heart, she won't be able to find the power in her to resist me.'


Inuyasha was still running when he recognized his surroundings. He had been there already, probably more than once. 'Damn it! Shippou's scent is leading me in circles!'

There was only one person behind this.

Naraku.

'Naraku knew I'd come...this must be another of his traps...Damn, I don't have time for this!'

In a cave

"He knows he is trapped. It is not an illusion either. He is in his own world, with nothing but himself." Naraku cackled softly to himself.

He turned to his possessed men, who had dumped oil around the entire cave. "Leave me."

They obeyed silently, picking up their empty buckets.

A woman dressed in a priestesses clothes walked stiffly into the cave and stood before Naraku. "Why did you send for me now Naraku? You have the jewel. I am of no use to you now."

Naraku laughed. "You, of no use to me? Kikyou, you should know that I intend to make Inuyasha suffer as much as possible."

"Of course I know that. Make him suffer as much as you like, just don't kill him. You can do whatever you please with the others, but Inuyasha is mine to kill." She paused."What is it you want me for?" Kikyou said daringly.

"Go to him, Kikyou. Lead him away from the exit of my trapping device. Distract him." Naraku purposely avoided her question. Kikyou could think whatever she wanted, but once his use for her was over, he will kill her. Inuyasha was his to destroy...first he wanted to destroy his spirit.

"I will return." Kikyou smiled in that innocently wicked way of hers and departed the cave.

Back to Inuyasha

Inuyasha searched for an opening he might have missed, but failed. Minutes passed and he began to lose confidence. "Naraku!" he scowled with a look of pure disgust, "Show yourself!"

Nothing happened, which he figured. But Naraku was near, he could smell him and his disgusting odor. He gripped Tetsusaiga, preparing for battle. A familiar scent caught his sensitive nose and his eyes widened. It wasn't Naraku. It was Kikyou. 'Kikyou...what is she doing here?'

She stared at him with her icy glare without speaking.

"Kikyou-what are you doing?" croaked a startled Inuyasha. He loosened his grip on his sword.

"Come with me Inuyasha." said a stiff Kikyou.

"Where? This is a trap right?"

"Yes, you are correct. Naraku has put you in a trap. He is planning to break your spirit, Inuyasha." Kikyou stared into his eyes, as if searching for something. "Come with me. I will break the barrier that is holding you in."

Inuyasha narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Why are you helping me now Kikyou?"

"I am not helping you. I've already told you." Kikyou's eyes blazed. "You are mine Inuyasha. I will not let a petty demon have the pleasure of destroying you or let the jewel become corrupted again."

Inuyasha didn't know how to respond to that.

"Come." Her tainted voice suddenly turned kind and gentle.

She held out her hand to him.

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Wow, it's been like forever hasn't it? Well I'm glad to be writing again, and I hope you like this new installment!!!

Lvsimplepln2: Haha! That means you're a loyal reader and reviewer...and in my book that's awesome! Thanks! Glad you liked the chapter, I'm keeping it going...

Seira: Yea! Anticipation...that makes me so happy! I'm excited you feel that way!

P.J.: Cool compliment! Are you following along with it so far? I don't want anyone totally confused...

ammeirs: Yup, she did flip out. I assure you! I'm glad you liked that chapter, hopefully this one you like too, no? Talk to ya later...probably on Wednesday...

kikyou: Yeah, I change a lot so far haven't I? Well, I did warn you guys a while back, but most of the things will be the same. Did you like the extra fluff I stuck in? I'm overjoyed you like the story!

Thank you reviewers!!! I love you lots!!! Time for bed, I have a dentist appointment in the morning, plus I have to finish the next chapter for The Captured Princess-g'night!