A/N: So, this story is starting to really get somewhere, huh? Hopefully it isn't boring anyone...if it is let me know. If you want me to add something, tell me also in a review and I'll be sure to take it into consideration. Thanks...and happy reading!

Finding What Was Lost

By: Sanci

Chapter 13: 'Easy Escape' and The Finding of Kagome

Last Chapter...

Kimisa's stomach felt like burning acid and her darkened eyes widened when she heard those words. 'He did not just call that-that tavern wench a sweetheart!' Her teeth starting grinding angrily and had to hold herself back from actually running out in front of everyone and slicing the girl to pieces. She couldn't...if Miroku were to see such a deed, then he would never like her, let alone love her.

She watched when Miroku walked away from the girl and smirked. 'Now's my chance...before he foolishly takes up her request.'

Kimisa clenched her fists and slowly snuck up behind the young girl, ready to attack at any moment.

End of Last Chapter.

As soon as the funeral ended, Kagome searched for any sight of Miroku. She frowned when she caught sight of his dark clothes and his staff walking into the woods. She ran after him to catch him before he was gone. Her backpack thumped against her back.

Why was he going into the forest, considering it was the opposite way from Kaede's? What was he doing? And where were the others?

"Miroku, wait!" she called, and smiled when he turned around.

He stared at her as if he didn't know who she was.

Kagome stopped in front of his questioning brown eyes feeling puzzled. 'Why is he acting this way?' she wondered. 'Did something happen when I was gone?' "Miroku, what's wrong?"

He stared at her still, gripping his staff, and did not answer.

Kagome felt even more confused than ever. "Miroku, where is Inuyasha? Is he here? Are Sango and Shippou around, or at Kaede's?" Kagome had an inkling that something was very wrong. Her stomach sank, but she remained cheery not trusting her first instincts.

He broke into a small grin. "Did you just say Sango?"

Kagome silently laughed. 'What was I so worried about, anyway?' she thought. "Oh Miroku, stop being perverted and tell me where the others are." She smiled wistfully, picturing Inuyasha's face when she found him. "Besides, I have a score to settle with Inuyasha."

Miroku's brow furrowed. "A score?"

Kagome couldn't help but grin. "Yes. It's a phrase. I basically said that I need to get even with Inuyasha. He took the jewel shards from me while I was sleeping and planned for me to be stuck there for good. Luckily, I hid one just in case he tried that stunt again."

Miroku looked behind her, but Kagome didn't notice. 'Oh no...Kimisa is close. I must get away from this woman before she catches us together. For some reason, I feel as if this dark-haired woman is important and I feel I need to keep her away from danger.' He saw Kimisa gracefully walking fast looking for any signs of him. 'I better get back to my love before she gets jealous.' Miroku waved his hand. "I'm sorry miss, but I must go now. I do hope you find Lady Sango." He walked away from a shocked Kagome.

'What? What did I say? Is Sango missing or something? Why was Miroku acting so weird?' "Miroku, wait-"

He was gone, and Kagome was stumped with confusion. 'Miroku wasn't himself. What's going on here?' She started walking in complete thought, making her way back to Kaede's. Maybe her questions would be answered there. 'Could this situation have something to do with Inuyasha leaving me at home? Hopefully not. I don't want anyone to be in danger.' She sighed.

"Please let everyone be alright." She whispered, stepping over a large log.


For the first time since they returned to the cave, Sango cleared her chalky throat to ask Picura a question.

"Who are the people you don't want to find us?"

Picura's face remained the same, cold and emotionless. He waited a moment before answering. "Vampires." He waited for her terrified reaction, and looked at her when he didn't receive any. He continued, keeping his limpid gray pools trained on her. "They were out there. I could smell them close by, and if you would have stayed out there, you would have been their newest kill." He stared at her guarded face. 'Why isn't she reacting? Isn't she scared?' His thoughts were unexpectedly interrupted by hers.

'What? Vampires? They have never bothered me before...he's probably lying. I mean...he could be a vampire-demon for all I know.' He watched her chew on a nail. 'I can't trust the likes of him. He's too...mysterious. I have to get out of here and find Shippou.' He could feel himself leaning closer, for once appreciating one of his powers. He frowned and quickly leaned back so she wouldn't notice which made him lose his on and off again powers. His frustration made him growl.

Sango's gaze flew to his in annoyance. "What?" 'What made him so cranky all of a sudden?' Her eyes narrowed, squinting curiously at him. She looked towards the opening of the cave and could tell the sky was darkening. 'It's dark already.' She pouted. She looked back to see Picura glaring at the hard rocky wall.

He wouldn't look at her.

"You must not try to escape me. If you try, you will die." He said without emotion. He then nodded towards a large wolfish looking bag that Sango hadn't noticed before. "You must get in that Peldon (A/N: Peldon is a made up word-well made up by me...It's the name for the bag. Hope you aren't confused!) if you want to live throughout the night."

'Why didn't I see that thing before?' she thought, then blanched. 'Did he just say what I think he said? He-he told me to get in that bag!' "Are you crazy? Do you think I am so stupid as to-to get in that bag...so that you can suffocate me so you can eat me? Oh please. Even I could have come up with a better tactic than that." She turned her nose up and away from him. "I don't think so."

Picura's distant eyes narrowed and darkened. Maybe it was just the cold darkness of the cave that creeped her out. It became so dark, all Sango could make out was Picura's built form. Fear clenched her dry throat. Right now the darkness scared her. Picura had an advantage now; he could easily overpower her and tie her up. Her anxious heartbeats increased and she immediately reached next to her for her boomerang.

All she felt was the hard cool ground.

'Oh no...where is Hiraikotsu?' she breathed deeply in fear. 'Where...is Picura?'

Something grabbed her arm and she gasped, moving quickly to the back of the cave for protection. Soft footsteps inched achingly slow towards her. The sounds ceased for a brief moment and Sango tried to remain as still as possible, breathing slowly. She felt a presence beside her, on her right and froze.

"Don't worry, I'll return soon Sango. Be good and crawl into the bag while I'm gone." A deep voice breathed, tickling the hairs over her ear.

'Like hell I will!' A second later, he was gone and she touched her ear. 'Why is he affecting me so much?' She exhaled and leaned back against the cool wall. 'What am I doing? Now is the time to escape. Maybe he left his sword here?' she frowned. 'No, he would never do that. Oh well...it doesn't matter now. He's gone, hopefully for good.' She remembered her sore leg and her missing boomerang and angrily punched the wall. "No!" she groaned. 'I hate that scum! He purposely stole my boomerang so I wouldn't try to leave.'

She stood carefully in the darkness and brushed off her dirty kimono. 'I'll just have to wait for him and then get it away from him.' She knew it wouldn't be that easy, but it was the best she could come up with. 'Maybe Inuyasha will find me before he gets back.'


Shippou opened his blackened eyes to see more darkness, reminding him that he wasn't with Kagome or Inuyasha. A small tear gently slid down his cheek. 'Kagome...' he pulled his small arms closer around his chest, but his wrists were held back. They were chained to the cold black wall.

He shifted uncomfortably to try to slip them off, and felt an enormous pain in his side. He whimpered and his lips trembled. 'What's taking Inuyasha so long to find me? Could they have-no! I refuse to believe that they abandoned me! They will find me!'

He hung his head, weariness enveloping his frail body. "I'm sorry Kagome. I'm so sorry." He whispered.

In the distance, Shippou could hear talking. His little fox ears perked and leaned closer to the sounds, struggling to hear as much as he could.

"Bring the monk here. Damnit-Kimisa is too slow and I can't wait. Once you find them, kill her and then capture the monk."

Shippou gasped as a swerve of pain rammed through his head. "Miroku?" 'No, not Miroku! He can't be captured!' He fought the chains angrily. 'I have to get out and keep my friends safe!'


Inuyasha felt himself growing more and more frustrated with Kikyou by the minute. He had a feeling she was leading him away from Naraku, but he couldn't tell because Kikyou's scent kept overpowering anyone else's. He grabbed her cold arm.

She stopped walking and looked at him expectantly.

"Kikyou, where are you taking me?"

She stared at him, her black hair blowing with the wind. "I told you already Inuyasha. I am taking you away from Naraku's traps."

"Why? You think I couldn't defeat him or something?" He asked, turning defensive.

Kikyou looked him in the eyes. "Of course not Inuyasha. You are so naïve."

"Well Kikyou, I still won't give you the benefit of the doubt. You have other motives, don't you?" he growled threateningly. "What's going on?"

Kikyou walked on and Inuyasha following in her wake.

"Kikyou, I don't have time for this!" Inuyasha exploded. "I have to track down my friends."

Kikyou's stomach tightened unwillingly. 'Shippou and Sango? I should have known Inuyasha would remain loyal to them...but before me, his past lover? I think not.' Her eyes hard as ice narrowed. "So you will leave me for...them?" She said the last word as if it were a disease. "Fine...as of this moment, your friends are in a lot of danger."

Inuyasha's breath hitched. His friends were in danger? Which ones? And what was Kikyou saying? She would never warn him about his friends. She despised them all. This wasn't like her. "What about my friends being in danger, Kikyou?"

"They are in danger, and you aren't there to help them. They will die if you cannot protect them fast enough." 'Maybe this will get Inuyasha to lead me to my reincarnation.'

"What? What are you saying Kikyou?" How could Miroku be in trouble too?

He was temporarily relieved that he left Kagome in her era. He didn't need to be worried over her safety too. It was a distraction from Naraku. He had a feeling this was leading to the final battle and it was best if Kagome wasn't around.

They reached a small clearing, and Kikyou sat down on a log to rest. She took a deep breath and looked at Inuyasha blankly. "There is something you should also know, Inuyasha."


He sped through Kaede's village an hour later after smelling a vague scent. Usually he never traveled alone, but the past couple days had been trouble for him.

It was now completely dark out so he had to rely on his demon sense of smell. In the distance, he sniffed a certain scent he could recognize anywhere. The scent was sweet...smelling so good every time he smelled it...lavender.

It-it was...the scent of his woman.

&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&

Bet you can't guess who that mysterious guy was traveling through the on...guess! (wink!)

Ganheim: Yeah, I noticed those little mishaps...I'm just too lazy to fix them. Haha...Anyways, thanks for noticing too. I'll take a look at your fics.

Iggy04: Thanks, and yeah. I was like that at first too. Too lazy to review...well now I know how important it is.

Kittycat: Your review really excited me! I did intend to make Picura sound hot. Well find out how he really feels about Sango within the next chapter or two I'm sure. So thanks a lot, and I hope you keep reading!

Time to go...does puppy dog face and cuddle my Inu plushie. Remember to read and review please!