A/N: *Dodges myriad flying objects set for her obliteration* MATTE! I can explain! *Dodges a ten-foot vase* Wait! I can understand that you guys hated that cliffy, but really! I told you guys I was sleepy then, ne? That just came out of my fingers! So gomen... hehe... didn't mean to make you mad or anything...

Anyway, I'm back to ease the burden of the cliffhanger... Sorry I took so long. I'm typing this up before my Speech report, because I read your reviews and *sniff* you guys are the BEST! Is that good? Huh?! Huh?! Is it?! Oh man, I had waaaay to much Pepsi.

Here's the chap! Please read and review. Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I own nothing.

-----/---@

SEVEN WEEKS

Snared

-----/---@

He had just...

Pulled Sango...

His only love...

Into his air rip...

"Gods, no!" he whispered desperately, dropping to his knees. "SANGO!!!"

-----/---@

"OW!"

"Gomen, Inu-chan."

Inuyasha grumbled under his breath, turning away from Kagome as she continued to wrap his arm wounds in bandages. He glared shortly at the "scratches" that he received from the youkai, before speaking.

"Kagome," he began.

"Hmm?" she asked, not taking her eyes from the wound she was bandaging.

"Are you alright?"

The question had been so innocent, and yet... "No. I'm not. I'm getting a strange gut feeling that something bad is about to happen."

Inuyasha looked at her in puzzlement before tilting her head up to gaze into her eyes. "Nothing bad will happen. I promise you. I'll always protect you."

Kagome smiled at him, before leaning up and capturing his lips with hers in a brief kiss. "Arigatou... now stop moving! I can't get to your wound!"

"ITAI!"

-----/---@

"Sango..."

Miroku kneeled broken in the middle of the battlefield, remains of dead youkai surrounding him. He wanted to cry... wanted to scream... but his throat had somehow gone very, very dry.

He looked down at his right hand, hatred brewing within his very soul. For himself... and for the being who had started this all. 'How could I have been so careless?' he thought angrily.

'I should have been more careful when I saw how Kirara... KIRARA!' he thought suddenly, his eyes shifting to the fire cat who now sat prone on the ground, silent as death. Her eyes were closed, and he could hear her letting out very rapid breaths.

"Kirara... what the hell happened?! Why did you let go of Sango?" he demanded as he walked unsteadily towards the cat. He just then noticed the strange sutra slapped upon the nekomata's forehead.

He went and pulled the sutra off, noticing with a start that the neko's breathing seemed to have calmed a great deal. He lifted the hand that still held the sutra and tried to make out the writing on the spell scroll. But the scroll had been too mutilated to read.

He slumped down on the ground beside the recuperating fire cat, then lifted his right hand once again. "I should just swallow myself in," he said softly, thinking of whether he would be seeing Sango in the void if he did just that. That would sure make up for swallowing himself into a hellhole.

He began to lift his right hand, fully intending on swallowing himself in, when his amulet began vibrating.

'Masaka,' he thought. 'Azalea-sama and Inuyasha are calling for me. Gods... I can't tell them that I managed to somehow... to somehow take Sango into my void!'

-----/---@

"Kagome, he's not answering."

"Shimatta," Kagome said, anxiously looking over Inuyasha's shoulder to peer into the amulet. "I knew something was wrong. Do you think they're ok?"

Inuyasha looked worried. "I dunno. Miroku usually picks this amulet up even during a bath. But now... I don't know. Where did they say they were at?"

"A quadrant behind us, I think. Yes, that's right. Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"

"If you're thinking of going back, then we are."

"Great. Let's go!" Kagome cried, grabbing her pack and heading for the mouth of the cave.

"Let's do this the easy way," Inuyasha said, crouching down in front of her. "Climb on my back. Now."

"Hai, hai!"

-----/---@

It took them quite a few hours, and by the time the pair finally reached the edge of the quadrant, it was nearing sundown. Kagome was anxiously looking around, shouting the missing pair's name every so often, while Inuyasha leapt as high as he could, sniffing around for the barely familiar scents of Sango and Miroku.

"Sango-chan!!! Miroku-sama! Where are you?" Kagome cried, hitching her pack up on her back. She shifted around, her tired legs numb from hanging onto Inuyasha's torso for a long time.

"Where could those two be?" Inuyasha asked rhetorically. He was kinda upset. Those two had looked so happy upon seeing Kagome, he was rather anticipating a happy reunion.

"I don't... Inuyasha! Look down there!" Kagome suddenly cried, upon seeing a large patch of burnt up dry trees. "I'd bet a battle took place down there!"

Inuyasha peered down. "You're right! They just might be there!"

They sped over there at once, and Inuyasha headed straight for the patch that they had seen. After a few minutes of searching, Kagome was just about ready to give up, but then Inuyasha hollered.

"Kagome! I think I see someone over there!" he yelled, pulling Kagome along with him. He ran off, heading for the form, when a familiar scent hit his nose. "Miroku... I smell Miroku!"

"Honto ni?! Inuyasha, where is he?" Kagome shouted, right before she saw a lone form leaning against a tree trunk, right beside a small, weary cat demon. "MIROKU-SAMA!"

Miroku looked up slowly, and Kagome was surprised to find his once sparkling eyes looking dead and teary. Inuyasha rushed over, Kagome in tow.

"Miroku! What happened?" he demanded, shaking the disgruntled monk when he seemed to refuse to acknowledge them.

Miroku just stared blankly at him. Kagome was concerned. "Miroku-sama? What's wrong?" She looked around. "Where is Sango?"

That did it for the broken man. Miroku took one large gulp of air, before breaking down into huge wracking sobs. He curled into himself, hugging his legs and burying his face into his knees.

Kagome and Inuyasha looked at each other in panic. Miroku was crying?!

"Miroku-sama?" she said slowly, holding his shoulder in her right hand. Without warning, the monk pulled her close to himself. Crying none-too- softly onto her shoulder, Miroku began to mumble what he thought had happened.

"You pulled Sango in?" Inuyasha asked softly, half-hoping the monk hadn't heard. He didn't know much about Miroku's hand, but from what he heard fro Kagome... that wasn't good.

Kagome was now crying softly with Miroku, and the monk pulled back abruptly, as if realizing something all of a sudden.

"Azalea-sama? I can touch you?!" he asked in shock, tear tracks still visible on his face.

Kagome smiled through her tears. "Ee... the Shikon isn't within me as of now..."

Miroku looked surprised. "But... how?"

Kagome then proceeded to tell him of all that had happened since she escaped. Miroku looked surprised. "Does that mean," he began, "That the Shikon no Tama is with Naraku right now?"

Kagome nodded. "It is in the Garnet Tower, but I doubt that Naraku can control it."

Miroku went livid. "Naraku. This is all his fault!!!"

"Hai. We have to go and avenge all that he has killed as soon a possible. And..." Kagome gulped. Maybe we can take Sango's soul from the tower."

All three companions looked solemn, and they all but jumped when they heard a voice suddenly speak up from behind them.

"No need, Azalea," it said, and Inuyasha, Kagome and Miroku all turned to find Kagura sitting atop one of the higher trees, grinning widely. "The monk didn't swallow the taijiya. But you still need to go to the Tower anyway."

Kagome was filled with dread. "What do you mean?"

Kagura looked amused. "What else? Naraku has managed to kidnap Sango from right under the monk's nose."

Miroku rose in anger. "What have you done with her?!" he asked.

"Nothing as of now," he youkai said. "But you still need to go and take her from Naraku."

And with that, the youkai flew off in her feather. Inuyasha once again tried to slash at her as she was taking off, but he didn't reach her.

Inuyasha turned just as the youkai disappeared from sight, anger blurring his vision, but his anger was nothing next to the rage brewing within the monk.

Miroku was rather relieved to find that he hadn't killed Sango, but he was enraged at Naraku for having let him suffer in silence all day, thinking of a hundred things that may have happened to his lady love. He clenched his fists, his eyes vowing all sorts of vicious repercussions for Naraku daring to touch his beloved Sango.

'Naraku...' he thought angrily, his hold on the beads binding his hand tightening with every ragged breath he took. 'You're mine, you bastard.'

-----/---@

She opened her eyes slowly, startling at the amount of darkness that assaulted her senses. Her body felt numb and exerted, her limbs aching so much that it was torture to clench her fists. She was laying on the hard, frozen floor. She could not see... she could hear nothing... and the only thing she could feel was the excruciating pain in her body.

"Miroku," she whispered softly. He was the only thing on her mind. She racked her brain for what had happened, how she had gotten where she was right now, but before she could come up with an answer, a strange red light filled the chamber she was in.

She closed her eyes, since she could not lift her arms to shield them. The light was releasing hot, nauseous gas, and her mind reeled even more from the pain that the heat gave her. Then, all of a sudden... it stopped.

The heat just disappeared. She cautiously opened one eye and realized that the light was no more. As she stared in wonderment, she never realized that some of the pain in her arms had subsided, and she slowly, carefully pushed her body up, bracing her torso on her elbows.

She looked around as she slowly forced her body up into a sitting position. When she had managed to sit up straight, she began fidgeting with her limbs, trying to see if anything had been broken.

Concluding that her body was in order, she looked around once again. 'The last thing I remember,' she thought. 'Is being pulled towards Miroku's air rip. Is that where I am? Miroku no kazaana?' She placed her head in her hands. "Where am I?" she softly asked herself.

She totally did not expect anyone to answer.

"Kukuku... you are in the garnet tower, lovely Sango."

Sango bristled angrily at the voice. "You... Naraku! Show yourself, you asshole!" she demanded, pushing her body up, trying to stand to no avail. Her legs still felt painfully numb.

"Stop hiding in the shadows and show yourself!" she yelled, clenching her fists as she heard soft, slow footsteps make their way towards her.

Suddenly, from right in front of her, a small, intense patch of red light appeared, revealing Naraku's smirking face. The light slowly spread, making Sango want to close her eyes, but she did not dare take her eyes off Naraku.

The light subsided slowly, leaving the room shrouded in harsh red light. Sango could just make out her surroundings, and she moved away from Naraku's leering face, which was right before her.

"What do you want from me? You need another prisoner now that Azalea-sama has escaped?" she asked angrily, absently noticing the round gem in Naraku's hands. It had been the source of the strange red light. 'Gods... that gem... is that what I think it is? Impossible!'

"No, not really. I'm here to make a proposition..."

"I don't want to hear it!" she yelled cutting him off. "I don't want to know what kind of scam you want me to enter. I want you to bring me back to Miroku ima sugu ni!"

"So it's 'Miroku' now, eh?" Naraku mocked her, a smirk forming on his lips.

Sango stiffened. That was NOT good, and she just knew it. Something inside her told her that making Naraku see just how much her relationship with the mystic had changed would be to her major disadvantage.

"Now that has just made me reconsider, Sango. Listen to my proposition dearest."

Sango glared at him, her gaze promising all kinds of vicious repercussions. "All I want to do right now is kill you, Naraku..."

"But you can't as of the moment, ne?" He asked mockingly, making Sango fizz in fury. "Listen to me, for I will make this quick."

"Do it now, before I decide to kill you."

Naraku just smirked at her, then called for Kanna and her mirror...

-----/---@

A/N: There you go! That's it for my last chapter. I hope you liked it!

And OMG! 30 reviews for my last chapter! I am soooo happy! ^_^

Responses:

Dk SoRa'Z-pAoPu AnGeL: Hi Pet-chan! Haha! Yeah, I liked that one too... ^_- Thanks!

EternalDemon: Nope... my real name is Adelle, and I live in the Philippines. ^_^ Glad you liked it! Here's the chap! YEAH, GIRLS RULE!!!

Justmeh: That would have killed the poor guy, ne? Anyway, I'm not that cruel... or am I? *Loony laugh* Here's the update!

ShadowStar666: Glad you liked it!

Ryngrl5: Glad you like it! ^_^ Naraku butt WILL be kicked, don't worry!

Litwolf689: I hope your play went well. Thanks!

BlazinRuby: There are still a few chaps to go! ^_^ Wow, I hope you did well on your tests. God knows how I could have done in mine!

fairyfli: Well, I'm glad I could help with your schoolwork! Thanks! Glad you like my fic!

taijiya-sango88: Here's the chap! No! I couldn't do that to Miro-chan!

Kody leigh: I'm glad you like my fic! ^_^ Yeah, we're doing great so far!

shadowandhawk: Wow... I never realized my fic had gotten so long. Here's the update!

Kohana: I'm glad you like it! Here's the update. And sure, I'll read your story!

Midoriko-sama: *Blushes* Oh my... thanks! Haha! I hope you don't get linched! ^_^

DevilWench: Thanks!

The Literary Dragon: Oh, I have something good in store for everyone, I promise you! I'm glad you like it! Arigatou!

fetchboy69: The phone... hmm, sounds interesting! I think I'll check your profile out again! I;m glad you liked it!

NR: Here's the chap!

Sukuri: Downpours aren't fun where I'm from... the streets always get so floody and I practically have to wear a fireman's suit to get to school in one piece! Oh, my birthday's on October 1, 1985. ^_^ When's yours? Heehee...

InuyashaGirlie: Glad you liked it! Don't worry, I'd never kill Sango that way!

KrysTheAngel: She's still in the game. ^_^ And hey, my boyfriend's gonna come and visit me this Christmas! ^_^ I don't like doctors either... they stick all these weird contraptions into different holes in your body. Eew! I'm glad you liked the chap! Good luck in school, too!

Yamiyumetenshi: NO!! Wait! I haven't killed her! Oh well, I dislike the I'll-take-you-to-hell-because-you-deserve-it-Inuyasha Kikyo, not necessarily the nice old Miko.

TheWraith1: Wow... you're right! About the capture thing, I mean. ^_^

LewdaKris: Wow, thanks! I'm glad you like my story. ^_^ You're from Georgia? Cool! I heard that place is really neat!

Guardian Angel of ALL Anime: Gomen for the new cliffy. Hehe... can't help it.

UnholyDragoon: Hehe... gomen. Oh my... peace?! Glad you liked it though!

hyperchica11: She's out!

Chevere: Thanks! I'm glad you liked it! ^_^

AnimeObsessionFantasy: ^_^ Here's the chap! And you better take some throat drops after screaming so much! ^_^

RavenShadow: Yeah, so I made her live! Here's the chap!

Dragonstar03: Oh my, I hope not... Glad you liked it!

Hanamaru285: Oh she's alive! Not so fine though...

There! Did I miss anyone? Hope not. That's it for my chap. Thanks again to all those who reviewed. I hope you enjoyed, and please, read and review! Arigatou! Ja ne!