Thanks to everybody who reads this story...been busy with the newest fic I wrote for Halloween and it took a while to sit down and write this chapter. (looks sheepish)

Also I started my own C2 Community and am looking for staff members and additions to the community. So please contact me if you do, otherwise say so in a review. It doesn't matter, any way possible. Thanks!

Finding What Was Lost

By: Sanci J

Chapter 16: The Mysterious Boy Who Resembles Miroku

Last Chapter...

Just as Picura's fangs poked her delicate skin, she whimpered and struggled within his grasp, turning her head away from him. He kept himself in control, and his fangs left her skin before he had the pleasure to feed.

He stared down at her in disbelief. 'What is happening? Why did she repel away from me?' His fangs recessed and he sat dumbfounded. 'How could she have the power to resist me this far within my powers?'

In anger he shoved her away from him and stood up. Yes...yes. He would get to the bottom of this. Picura could always just take her blood against her will, but that wasn't pleasurable to him. He was still puzzled at how she had the power to not allow him to taste her sweet blood.

He felt the overpowering gnawing again. His hunger was so great.

He had to feed...now.

He drew his hand through his dark locks and moved towards the exit of the cave. 'I'll taste her tomorrow. All be damned if not.'

End of Last Chapter.

When Kagome woke from her deep sleep, she saw surroundings completely unfamiliar to her. What she saw was the dark wall before her and felt something beneath her head. She blinked and looked down, seeing she was lying in a fancy bed with white sheets. A...a bed? Everything else in the room was a dark color other than the bed and the little sunlight coming in through the window on the other side of the room from her left. Where was she?

The last thing she remembered was Kouga carrying her away from the campfire for her protection. Wait-did Kouga bring her here? Groaning, she sat up in the overly comfortable bed. 'W-Where am I?' she thought, her gaze circling the room for anything familiar. 'Did Kouga really bring me here? What is this place?'

Kagome moved to the corner and stood up, only to find that she was naked and gasped, pulling the blanket around her. She blushed and glanced around, making sure she was most definitely alone. 'Where are my clothes? How...how did they get off me?' Her eyes grew bigger. No way. Kouga would never-would he?

Her stomach felt queasy and she groaned. 'What am I doing here? I need to find Inuyasha...' Her eye caught something yellow and unmistakably familiar. Her backpack!

"Thank Kami." She sighed with relief and moved towards it while gripping the white blanket to her body. She landed on her knees beside her huge backpack and saw a tray next to it. On the tray was some bread, cheese, and a cup of something she didn't recognize.

Her stomach growled at the sight and she automatically reached for the bread hungrily. Taking a big bite, she noticed it was delicious and began to eat faster.

So fast she didn't notice the door to her room open.

Kagome squealed with alarm when she saw that someone was in the room. She remembered her manners and placed the rest of the bread on the tray, swallowing noisily.

A woman stared at her and her lips twitched when she saw that Kagome was naked beneath the blanket.

Kagome stared back. "Hello." She croaked. Kagome found that she couldn't look away from the woman. She was...beautiful.

"Good morning Lady Kagome. Did you sleep well?"

'Lady Kagome?' Kagome nodded in a frozen state at her soft voice.

"Here are your clothes. I am sorry they took so long to be cleaned." She said in a breathy voice and placed them next to Kagome with a smile.

Kagome didn't pay attention to the clean clothes. She watched the demon woman carefully.

"You should dress quickly. Kouga will visit you shortly, and you wouldn't want him to see you like that, do you?" She smiled and turned to leave.

'So Kouga did bring me here...' "Wait! I-I'm sorry, but I don't know where I am. Could you tell me?" Kagome stood, pulling the blanket up with her closer to the demoness.

The woman reminded Kagome very much of Kouga. She wore fur clothing just like Kouga and his tribe, except she was wearing a long dress. The woman had long wavy black hair with white lilies in it for decoration, which made her look stunning. Around her pale skin at her neck was a necklace made of flowers and stems the color of a light pink and more of the white. She had piercing eyes like Kouga's, green with a tinge of blue in their depths. The only way Kagome could tell this woman was wolf-demon was by her slightly pointy ears.

The woman's eyebrow raised seeing Kagome's curiosity. "You are in the Eastern Lands. This is the home of Kouga's cousin, the ruler of the Eastern Kingdom."

What? Kagome was in the Eastern Lands?! "But-I-uh don't live anywhere near here..." she shrieked and felt like panicking.

The woman patted Kagome's shoulder. "Dear Lady, Kouga brought you here for your safety. Please do not panic."

"Panic?" Kagome asked, her breaths coming in harshly. "You tell me not to panic?" Kagome was far away from her friends...and Inuyasha. She had to get back to Kaede's village!

"My safety?!" Kagome became angry. "My safety? I don't need protection." 'I need Inuyasha.' "I can protect myself. I'm not weak." 'Compared to Inuyasha, though, I am.' She groaned in agony. "I want to go back. Right now!" she paced back and forth.

As she paced, Kagome felt guilty for being so rude to the nice woman. She opened her mouth, turned to apologize and stopped.

The woman was gone and the door was closed.

Kagome hoped she hadn't run her off with her behavior. She sighed and quickly dressed in her clothes; the traditional school uniform. After she finished she looked around the room once more while eating the cheese.

Sitting back against the bed, she searched for her hairbrush to tame her frizzy hair. "Yes!" she cheered when she finally found it on the bottom of the bag. She began to brush her hair quickly. 'Once I look decent, I need to find Kouga, someone, anyone who can take me back. I...have to get back to Inuyasha. Even though I'm mad at him, I still miss him and want to see him really bad.' She scrunched up her nose in sadness and pouted.

A laugh sounded from above her.

Kagome jumped in shock and her head swung up to see Kouga laughing at her. Kagome narrowed her eyes, watching his amusement, and centered on his neck where an unfamiliar necklace hung.

Kouga saw her eyes on his neck and sat down next to her.

She looked away uncomfortably, gathering the courage to tell him to take her back to Inuyasha.

"How do you like the room?" he asked, looking around.

"It's...quiet." She murmured.

He directed his icy eyes on her. "You don't like it?" he asked, perturbed.

Kagome drew in a sharp breath. 'Great...I just insulted him. How is that going to get me

back to Inuyasha and the others?' "No, it's-uh great. But a little confined, don't you

think?" 'Uh...why did I say that?'

Kouga stared at her with his lips pursed in thought. "I've never noticed. Maybe it's

because your human and this room is meant for specific guests of the Royal family that

are demon."

Kagome kept herself from gaping. "You mean this room is one of the fanciest in this place?" 'This place would make me go insane!'

"Yeah, except for the King and his blood relatives."

"It must be, because this is the first time I've ever seen a bed like this here." Kagome traced the fancy woodwork with her fingers.

"Hmmm." He nodded. "Was it comfortable?"

"Oh, yes of course. I really appreciate it." She replied quickly.

His eyes narrowed. "What is it?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I smell your nervousness. So what is it?"

"Kouga...why did you bring me here?" she asked looking back up into his eyes.

"To keep you safe from Naraku's clutches."

Kagome stiffened irritably. "Kouga, I don't know what you're trying to do, but I'm going back. You had no right to kidnap me."

Kouga placed his hand on hers. "You were in danger Kagome. I told you I would always protect you, and I will. This place will keep you safe until I'm finished with Naraku. Even he won't find you here."

Kagome pulled away. "I don't want to hide out. I just want to go back to Inuya-"

"Not that idiot mutt again!" Kouga growled. "Kagome, he's not good enough for you, so forget him."

Kagome broke in with a gulping sob. 'No!'

Kouga winced. "At...least, until I've avenged my comrades and killed the ruthless Naraku."

"Kouga, no..." Kagome moaned, wiping her tear filled eyes. "I don't care if I'm in danger." She fumed. "Take me back or I'll go on my own."

Kouga stared at her deeply, without any emotion showing.

Sunlight streamed in from the small window and reflected brightly off Kouga's necklace into Kagome's eyes. She blinked.

"It was a gift from my cousin." Kouga said, breaking the silence and changing the subject. "He gave it to me early this morning." He unhooked it, taking the fancy looking ring off, and gave it to Kagome.

She held it in her left hand and gazed at it. She could tell it was an expensive piece of jewelry by the blended colors of the ring. On the front was a small carving of a wolf leaning up on its hind legs with three emeralds above it. "Wow...its beautiful." She breathed. In awe of what a priceless heirloom it must be, Kagome ran her thumb over the carving of the wolf and noticed there were more engravings along the side of the ring. She looked at them, puzzled because they were of some language she didn't recognize. What did the words mean? "Kouga, what do these writings mean?"

Kouga inwardly grinned and opened his mouth to explain.

"Master Kouga?"

Both Kouga's and Kagome's heads swung to the door where a different voice came from.

A young boy's head poked inside the door, and Kagome could tell he was nervous, even afraid. She looked back and forth between both the boy and Kouga. 'Master Kouga? Since when is Kouga of high stature? He has got to be kidding...' She watched Kouga acknowledge the boy with a nod, but her gaze went back to the boy. He looked familiar.

"What is it Hakiro?" he said impatiently.

The boy cautiously entered the room and Kagome saw him stumble over the blankets she had left on the floor. The boy cried out and walked forward to gain his balance, but instead fell on Kagome and she hit the bed with a thud. She felt her very breath leave her body and gasped. Hakiro immediately hopped off her and apologized profusely.

Kouga lifted her off the floor in concern. "Kagome, are you hurt?"

Kagome rasped, breathing deeply. Her stomach lurched and at seeing the angry look on Kouga's face, she refrained from telling her true feelings. She didn't want to fuel his anger toward the servant boy. She sat up as fast as possible. "I'm fine. Peachy." She straightened her shirt, smiling brightly.

Kouga accepted her answer and sighed with relief. 'He won't get off that easy.' Kouga let go of Kagome and stood to his full height, turning his now dark gaze to Hakiro menacingly.

Kagome felt a moments panic at his anger and grabbed his arm as she stood. "Kouga..."

The boy stared at Kagome with raw fear in his dark eyes, breathing harshly. 'The poor boy; he didn't mean to trip and fall on me. Why can't Kouga see that?'

Kouga turned his head to look at Kagome and saw the boy's fear in her eyes. "Don't worry Kagome. I won't hurt him."

Kagome smiled and squeezed his arm, making him glad he didn't hurt Hakiro. "What have you come to tell me that couldn't wait?"

Hakiro lowered his head. "The Master Lord of the Eastern Lands has personally invited you to eat with him in his study within the hour." The boy glanced at Kagome. "He has requested that I escort Lady Kagome to dine with the others."

'What? Cousin wants this-this servant to escort my Kagome? Why can't she eat with me?' Kouga grit his teeth together. 'Cousin must have something important to discuss with me if he wants privacy.' He conceded with an abrupt nod and looked back at Kagome. "Go with Hakiro to the table. I will see you as soon as I've finished." His gaze then steeled when he looked back at Hakiro. "If anything happens to her, you will be responsible."

With that said, he stalked from the room, leaving an uncomfortable silence in his wake.

"I'm sorry about that Hakiro. He shouldn't have behaved that way to you," said Kagome, sighing.

He shook his head. "No Mistress Kagome. I should have been more careful. I'm so sorry. But thankful. You prevented Master Kouga from punishing me." The boy tentatively smiled, his dark eyes shining. "I like you Mistress Kagome."

Kagome blushed and was hit with a sudden realization. This boy was familiar...she hadn't been lying. He was a younger version of Miroku! He was a couple inches taller than Kagome, though not as tall as Miroku or Inuyasha. There eyes were the same dark brown and Hakiro's hair was dark and in the same style as Miroku's. Hakiro smiled different than Miroku in the way that when Miroku smiled, it was perverted. "Thank you. I like you too, Hakiro. But could you just call me by my name? Its just Kagome."

"Oh, alright."

Kagome bent down and picked up the blanket she had dropped and remembered that Kouga's ring was still in her hand. "Oh no. Kouga left his ring here. I'll just give it to him after dinner."

Hakiro's eyebrows raised, but saw Kagome straightening the bed and walked forward. "Lady Kagome. You don't need to do that. The other servants will."

Kagome stopped. "Oh." 'They have servants? My Kami...' "Am I going to eat with you Miroku?"

"Miroku?" Hakiro questioned.

Kagome winced. "Uh...You resemble a friend of mine, and I got your names mixed up. I'm sorry..."

"It's okay." He nodded.

"Thanks. So, am I going to eat with you?" Kagome felt like an idiot as she slipped the ring on her finger, surprised at its heaviness.

"Yes, Lady Kagome. I am your escort, and we shall go as soon as your ready."

Kagome hid a grin at his formality. She got a good look at him and saw that he also wore clothes similar to Kouga, but his clothes were thinner and had some patches of dirt on them. "Let's go then."

Hakiro, the mysterious boy who resembled her dear friend Miroku, took Kagome's arm with a smile and proceeded to take her to dinner.


"Put the fox over here." A voice commanded to its loyal servants.

The servant found the fox-demon curled up into a ball asleep on the cold ground. Undoing the shackles, he carried the blood-crusted Shippou to his Master, who sat calmly on a large stone.

"If Kanna fails also, then I have plans for the little fox."

The servant grinned. "Brilliant Master. They'll have no idea what's coming to them."

"Precisely. They will have no idea anything is happening to them until the end. Then they will all perish." The voice said, full of excitement.

"Master, what about the woman you sent out?"

"She is of no use to me until the monk is within her power. I'm not sure how trustworthy she is, so I will test her strength."

The servant placed Shippou on the lumpy ground. The fox whimpered in his sleep from the lingering pain. "Will the fox live Master?"

The Master remained silent. Actually, according to his plans Shippou would live, but who else needed to know other than him what was planned?

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

iLvsimplepln2: Thanks! I'm glad you were waiting for my other story, and that you reviewed for it too. I feel so appreciated, thanks!

Overobsessy: Oh my...I saw the episode and I'm also freaking out cause they stopped after the one where the lord is in love with Sango. I was really upset, but I can wait. The next movie is coming this winter too! Cool, you have Fluffy while I keep Inu all to my self. (laughs evilly and clutches a scared Inuyasha)

Inu: Is Fluffy gone yet?

Me: When are you too going to make up?

Inu: (smiles innocently)

(hits him on the head) Me: No you go make up with him! Or no Ramen for dinner!

Inu sighs and makes up with Fluffy.

Me to Overobsessy: Yea, now we can have a double wedding!

Muahahahahaha....I updated and am ready to send out wedding invitations...Lol! Thanks for all the support! (tear)

Kagma: Wow...Jenna's neighbor. I have heard freaky things about that dude in the past. I'm cruel?! (smacks self on head) "I told you to stay away from Inuyasha's secret drink!" Oops...okay, well don't be as cruel as me and update yours soon too! Thanks pal!

Ganheim: Wow...I didn't know I had made so many mistakes. Thanks for showing me them; now I know to be more careful and precise with my words and the wording. One day soon I'll correct the mistakes, but until then thank you.

Ashley R.: Wow...you really like this story? Sorry it took so long, I didn't mean to torture you! (cries too) Thanks for the encouragement!

lilsaki: Thanks, I'm so happy you love it! Thanks for reading and reviewing!

Shinna: Thanks, I'm glad you chose this story to read!

i-wish-i-was-kagome: Yeah! I love fluff too!

Seshoumaru is mine back off: There is more, it just took a while! Sorry...I didn't forget!

Wow, guys. Thanks so much for liking this story. Hope you keep reading!

Much luv- Sanci