Disclaimer: They are the property of Rumiko Takahashi, not me.

Chapter 32

He wasn't quite sure where he was going; his instincts led him toward where he believed she was. Unlike their time in the past, Inuyasha found himself surprised at how quickly they were moving. Shippo and Yuka ran alongside him, not slowing him down in the least. Thankfully, the pathetic human rode on Kirara's back; Inuyasha was grateful to have the neko-youkai at a time like this. If she hadn't been there, someone else would have to take on the burden of the lecher.

The girls were not moving away from him anymore; he could feel that. Where they ended up he still wasn't sure, but every minute that passed by, he got a little closer to his goal. They had been traveling close to an hour, but still had a long way to go to reach their companions.

"Inuyasha? There is a village just up ahead. Do you think we can stop for a moment to get a drink of water?" Shippo asked, his green eyes pleading. "It has been a long time since any of us traveled like this."

Inuyasha slowed down, to face the kitsune. "You have got to be kidding me, right? You seriously want to stop for a glass of water?" The hanyou stopped, as Kirara landed next to the group. Makoto slid off the fire cat's back and began to approach the pair. "Get your ass back on the cat, lecher. We ain't stopping!"

"It might be a good chance to stop and get a few things of water. It should only take a minute." Yuka joined the group, agreeing with Shippo.

Inuyasha stared at her in disbelief. "Kagome is in danger; we don't know WHERE she is. All we know is Shinju is with her, too. We are going after them and all you people can think of is getting WATER?? Are you fucking insane? I might as well do this shit on my own. You ain't helping any."

"If you let us do this now, we won't fall behind later. It is warm out and the water will help us keep moving. Who knows when we will get another chance to stop?" Yuka tried to convince him, not wanting to resort to guilt.

"We need to get to Kagome."

"Alright, but imagine if Kagome is being held captive without food and water." Yuka sighed, before laying on the rest of her sob story bound to change the hanyou's mind. "She'd be awfully thirsty and may need to drink right away. I can't imagine you would feel good if that was all she wanted when we got to her, and you didn't have any."

The hanyou growled in frustration, not wanting the stupid wolf's story to happen. "Like you expect me to believe that? What are you stupid? Five minutes, that's all I'm giving you guys. I leave once the five minutes are up, with or without you."

His companions hurried toward the city, Inuyasha rolled his eyes in response. They were acting as if they hadn't ever had a break before. He followed behind at a leisurely pace, just wanting to make sure there were a couple bottles of water in her pack when they found Kagome. He had no idea what kind of condition they would find her.

Her pack, properly filled with water bottles only minutes later, it was time to get on the road again. There was one small problem, his companions were nowhere in sight. A small rumble developed within his throat as he turned to search for them.

Anger filled him, he had given them five minutes and it was up right now. He spotted two of them, across the street. Shippo and Makoto were speaking with a woman with an unusually large chest, Inuyasha fumed inside. 'How dare they hit on women when Kagome is in danger?' The rumble turned into a full-fledged growl as he flexed what claws he did have as a human; they were dead. He took off at a full sprint.

He was beaten by a girl. Two to be exact.

Apparently, Yuka and Kirara were a little closer to them than he was, intercepting them first. Kirara got to Makoto first, growling like an avenging angel in full youkai form, knocking the human to the ground. With her teeth, she picked him up by the back of his shirt, carrying him away from the female.

Shippo bent over laughing just as Yuka clothes lined the kitsune, immediately halting the laughter. "Will you STOP hitting on women?! You are the biggest lecher I know!" She screamed in his face as she bent down to grasp his auburn ponytail in her hands, yanking him to his feet with one pull. "NO MORE! How many times do I have to tell you? You can hit on me. ONLY me!"

Inuyasha stared in shock as the wolf demon railed at the fox. 'She really likes that hentai?' Kirara sat down next to him; depositing the wayward human at his feet. Inuyasha glared at him. "Fucking lecher. If the girls hadn't gotten to you first, I would have mauled you both." He growled before depositing the sheepish looking man on the back of the fire cat. "It's time to go, past time. I find you both here harassing some girl while Kagome and Shinju are still out there, alone."

Yuka dragged the kitsune by his ponytail to the group as she babbled to no one in particular, "No, but you never touch Yuka. She's still a kid. Her dad might eat you or something if you look at her wrong."

"Damn right he'd eat me, tail and all." The kitsune whined, quickly developing a headache from all of the pulling the wolf was doing on his hair. "Kami, Yuka; lemme go!"

Yuka came to a stop, but didn't withdraw her grasp on his hair. "Repeat after me."

"Damn it, NO!"

She yanked on his ponytail, "Repeat after me! I will never touch another woman."

"Hell no."

"Say it!" The wolf yelled, getting a better grip on his hair before yanking harder.

"Ouch, ouch, ouch. Stop that!" Yuka pulled even harder. "Yeow!!! Fine, fine; I'll never touch another girl."

"Except Yuka!"

"WHAT?" He attempted to turn, but her grasp on his hair prevented him from moving. "I ain't saying that Yuka! You're just a baby! Maybe in like two hundred years."

"You touch Kagome, and she is the same age as me."

"Keh, Kagome's human." Shippo spat out. "Lemme go, Yuka. We gotta go after Kagome."

Yuka paused before releasing his hair, she had almost forgotten about her friend. She quickly turned and followed the kitsune, trying to catch up with the retreating hanyou. They needed to find Kagome.

Coldness entered her stomach at his words; he knew who she was. All her hopes dissolved in that instant. This Yume person had confiscated their weapons immediately upon capture and besides her raw strength; which was almost non-existent, she couldn't fight humans like she could a youkai. Her miko powers wouldn't come in handy against them.

Shinju moved to stand in front of Kagome, protectively. "Leave her alone, Netawaki. You'll have to get through me to get to her."

"That shouldn't be a problem, little taijiya. Without your weapons you aren't a threat." He turned to his lackey, "Yume, we don't need the taijiya if we have the shikon. Kill her if needed; get the jewel from the miko. She hides it around her neck."

The man quickly approached the girls, smirking. Shinju stood her ground in front of the miko, prepared to protect her with her life. She knew that jewel could never fall into Netawaki's hands as hers had. Kagome watched as the taijiya pulled herself into a fierce defensive stance, preparing to risk everything to protect her.

Yume pulled the small revolver he had been carrying with him out, pointing it at the taijiya. Shinju didn't even flinch; it was as if she had been prepared for that. Reflexes as fast as a cat, she kicked the gun from his hand. Kagome watched as it flew across the room, far away from anyone to be able to retrieve it. Shinju landed from the attack as gracefully as she had executed it, quickly pivoting her weight to the foot that had made the attack. In an instant, she was up again, her other foot connecting with the man's chin in a sharp attack.

Yume staggered, shocked at the fight the taijiya was now putting forth for the sake of the miko. Catching his balance, he lunged forward, knocking the girl in the stomach and to the floor. Landing on top of her, he wrapped his hands around her neck and squeezed tight. A final breath was taken, before she started to fight against his strength, failing miserably. A small whine emitted from the taijiya before she finally was able to position her feet to effectively knock the man off her.

With one strong push against him, she knocked him off her. Glancing at Kagome, she realized she would never get to her in time to save the jewel. During the fight, Netawaki had approached the miko while Shinju was distracted. Kagome was pressed against a wall in fear, knowing her jewel would be stolen in mere seconds.

Netawaki smirked, only raising one side of his mouth, making him that much more sinister. Strangely, although pressed against the wall in fear, Kagome could only think about what the hanyou would say when he got there. She had no doubts that he would save her eventually, he always did. She only knew that he wouldn't be in time to save the jewel from its fate, it would be taken. Inuyasha would be pissed.

She had taken of on her own with Shinju and gotten them into even deeper trouble than they possibly could have on her own. She glared at Netawaki, 'All because of you, greedy bastard.' She cringed as the man got within grasping distance of the jewel. Everything seemed to be moving in slow motion, she just wish it would end.

Finally, Netawaki grasped the jewel around her neck; at his touch, Kagome felt a rush of power flow through her veins. A flash of pinkish-red erupted in the room, knocking Netawaki away from her. Stunned, Kagome could only stare at the man sprawled on the ground a large distance away wondering exactly what had happened. She reached up to her neck, where the jewel still sat undisturbed. Breathing a sigh of relief for whatever miracle had just happened, she grasped the jewel before speaking. "This belongs to me."

"Yume, get the jewel." Netawaki instructed his henchman. Looking doubtful, the man began to approach the miko. Kagome exchanged a look with Shinju, both wanting to make sure it really had happened. Sure enough, when the man reached for the jewel the warmth filled her veins. The pinkish-red light erupted from her, without her attempting to do anything. The man was knocked across the room, the same way his boss had moments before.

"KAGOME!"

The scream came from outside the door, only seconds before the wrath of Tetsusaiga shattered the door in its wake. At the sight of her hanyou, albeit in human form, she felt her energy drain from her body in relief. He caught her just as she fell to the floor in a dead faint.

At his scream, Netawaki and his henchman had hightailed it out of there, not wanting to invoke the hanyou's obvious rage. By the time he reached the room, they were already gone. He turned his rage instead to the person he felt deserved it the most at the moment, besides the girl in his arms.

"You fucking bitch, what were you guys thinking of running away alone. Look at what the hell happened. What the hell is wrong with Kagome?" He suddenly asked; looking at the pale girl clasped within his grasp.

Shinju looked up from her place on the ground, sighing. Everyone else was surrounding the pair, wanting answers as well. "It was strange. They captured us and when he saw Kagome, he knew who she was. He sent his stupid little lackey after me, so he could get the jewel from her." She paused, watching as Inuyasha reached down and touched the jewel. It was as if he couldn't believe she still had it. "The strangest thing happened, Inuyasha. She had some power that burst from within her, a light. It protected her from them for some reason. I don't know what it was, but it prevented the jewel from being stolen."

"What? They…they weren't youkai's. How could she do that?" Shippo stuttered from behind the hanyou.

"Maybe I can be of assistance." A small voice said as Inuyasha slapped himself on the neck.

"MYOUGA?!" Inuyasha and Shippo yelled at the same time, staring at the ancient flea demon lying in the hanyou's hand.

ShenjiDemon Wow, your story so far is awsome. Not to mention perfect. If the series ends and a bunch of people sent in letters asking for a continuation I would pick your story. Except minus the little overly fluffy parts. Not that I don't like them but you never know who will watch it. Anyway great chapter. Inuysha needs to chill, he is WAY overly protective. Kirara was really cute in this chapter though, and I can't believe Netawaki figured it out so quickly. Wasn't it supposed to be dark in that room? Anyway can't wait till you update!

Wow…thanks. What a compliment. I know…I tend to get a little fluffy at parts. Yes, he is WAY overprotective….and I have a feeling after everything…it will only get worse…LOL.

cyclonegal12 Kidnapping! O.O That's one of my favorite things to happen in a book. But I'm a little confused, Kagome and Shinju were captured by the Youkai Underground... Right? If they were why is there a human running it? Update soon! I love your story!

Sorry about the confusion. They were taken by people who want to CONTROL the underground. For some reason ONLY Shinju is able to do it with her jewel alone. With the Shikon…well it is too powerful with the other jewel, they don't need the underground to take over the world.

DivineEvil This is a GREAT storie. But, Kagome should have known better then to take off by herself. Well w/o InuYasha anywayz. How could the demons trust Shinju she like part miko? Couldnt she destroy them or something? PLEASE UP DATE! SOON!

Yeah, you'd THINK she'd learn that by now. I guess not. As for my dear Shinju, she's a little different. She isn't a miko….but has some of their powers. When she controls her jewel, she has the ability to control the demon population. Knowing she is the last demon slayer alive, and all powerful…they listen.

DarkWolfYoukai-and-Blood Demon o! kagome and shinju are so in trouble! laughs he's serious about chaining kagome to him? that would earn quite a lot of face-plants. please update soon. this is the first fic i look for when i get author alerts, it's so good.

Does he mean it? Yeah…of course he does. WILL he do it? Of course not, he will just threaten her with it constantly!

Keyo-Red Angel of Hope A good chapter, I have a supcion there's more to this creep than meets the eye (or he's just Naraku reincarnate, if so, I will hurt you!)
I do have a question though, if Shiniju is a fully trained Tajiya, couldn't she have disarmed their captor and beat the royal crap outta him?
In any case, once Inu catches up to these guys...they're gonna be removed in bottles rather than body bags.

I suppose….yeah she could have. I don't think she was expecting a human with a gun though….and they DID confiscate her weapon upon abduction, of course (I did FORGET to mention that) She comes back for her revenge later though.