A/N: I was home sick from school this week, so I managed to get this chapter up earlier than planned. Also, for you readers of Go from the Heart; I've been considering making a follow up chapter. Cast your votes!

Review Responses

TalonKB: I can see where you're coming from but I wasn't going to have Sango be with anyone. My plan is to help her find happiness by becoming closer to Inuyasha, not as a romantic pairing, but as very close friends. I'll see what other reviewers think, and if the preference is for Sango to be with somebody, I might work it in.

Sweet Prayer: I'm glad you like it! I have no idea how you found that last chapter cute, but whatever, as long as my work is appreciated!

SesshiesPersonalPriestess: You forget, Kagome can be irrational at times.

TillEvermore: I like to know I meet even strict standards. That means I'll have a bigger audience. But if you don't often like stories in fan fiction, why do you have a pen name?

Rae: Inuyasha definitely needs to work on his people skills.

Chapter 16: Capture!

Kagome let herself sink deeper into the warm waters of the hot spring. "This is so relaxing." she thought. She was, in fact, so relaxed she had forgotten why she had come to the hot spring in the first place. "Oh well. I guess a nice relaxing soak really does help you forget your troubles." she said to herself. She rose from the waters and tied on her bath robe. "I suppose I ought to be getting back to the village. Inuyasha is probably aching to leave as it is." Before she could go any further however, two razor-sharp winds ripped through the vegetation about her. A strong hand clapped over her mouth as Kagome felt her feet leave the ground as she was brought airborne.

"Hold still and keep quiet if you wish to keep living!" a hostile voice hissed into her ear.

Inuyasha paced back and forth in Kaede's hut. He was beginning to become impatient. "Where is that useless woman? Those shards aren't going to find themselves you know!" he complained.

"Inuyasha, if you really want to get moving, why don't you go fetch Kagome yourself?" Miroku asked.

"Why don't you get her monk? She's your woman! Besides, she'd get angry at me if she thought I was peeking, but she expects that kind of behavior from you." Inuyasha defended himself.

"She told me not to follow her, and I've decided to respect her wishes." Miroku said. Both he and Inuyasha turned to Sango.

"Oh fine, I'll go." Sango resigned, rolling her eyes. "But I wouldn't be surprised if she's angry at me too. I mean, I did sort of front on her. If I come back dead it's your fault Houshi-sama."

"My fault? Why is it my fault?"

"Because you wouldn't go yourself." Sango explained,

"Fine, I'll go with you then. That way, at least we'll die together." Miroku joked. Sango couldn't help but grin. Miroku always knew how to make her smile. When they reached the nearest spring they were puzzled to find Kagome's uniform, bow, and quiver but no Kagome. "Well, this is rather odd." Miroku commented.

"Indeed." Sango agreed. "I can't imagine Kagome going off into the woods naked and without a weapon."

"I can imagine it, but I don't think she'd do it in real life." Miroku replied. Sango rolled her eyes.

"Pervert. This is hardly a proper time for jokes Miroku. Kagome is gone missing. The girl you love has gone missing." Sango reminded him sternly.

"Right. You go fetch Inuyasha." Miroku said with authority. "He can try and track her scent. I'll begin looking now."

"Looking where?" Sango asked. "We don't even know where she's gone."

"Look at this though." Miroku gestured to two scars in the earth where the soil had been upturned. He also indicated slashed underbrush and foliage. "It appears as if she was taken by force, and that means we don't have much time to waste. He kidnapper might mean her harm, and it's my fault she was out here alone, therefore it's my responsibility to find her."

"Don't try that Miroku. We all had our parts in making Kagome go off on her own. Don't you go laying all the blame on yourself." Sango warned him.

"Enough!" Miroku dismissed her with a wave of his hand. "Make haste! Arguing over blame placement won't help us find Kagome any faster."

When Sango returned with Inuyasha, Miroku was still in the same clearing. "I thought you were going to go ahead after Kagome." Inuyasha said.

"That was when I thought all this damage would lead somewhere. But it doesn't." Miroku informed him. "Can you track her scent?"

Inuyasha sniffed at the air and took a few steps. "No. Her scent ends right here. Whoever came after Kagome must know about us. How else would they know to make it this difficult to follow?"

"Koga perhaps?" Sango asked.

"No. Both of their scents would be traceable if he had taken her. Besides, he could've robbed us of Lady Kagome's presence more than once before. Why would he decide to start now?" Miroku reasoned.

"Well, whoever it was, they planned this out pretty well. How will we find her if we don't know where to begin looking?" Inuyasha asked.

"We have no choice but to split up." Miroku determined. "Sango, you and Kirara go east. I will call for Hachi and head northwards. Inuyasha you take Shippo and go west. That way, whichever one of us finds Kagome, we can send our companion for the others."

"I have to go with Inuyasha? Why can't I go with you Miroku?" Shippo whined.

"If you come with me, and Inuyasha finds Kagome, he'll have no way to track us down." Miroku explained. "But don't worry; he will not hurt you unless he wishes to receive a heavy punishment from both Kagome and myself later on."

"You know," Sango interrupted, "that's never stopped Inuyasha before."

"Do not worry. I'm sure Inuyasha understands the graveness of this situation, don't you friend?" Miroku spoke in Inuyasha's favor.

"Damn right I do. But you're forgetting one thing Miroku. What if Kagome was taken to the south?" Inuyasha inquired.

"If that is the case, we will regroup at Kaede's village and all head south together." Miroku planned. "That begin said, let's get moving. Every second we waste here is another second in which our enemy might harm Kagome!"

"Right. Let's go runt!" Shippo hopped onto Inuyasha's shoulder and they took off towards the setting sun.

"Kirara!" At Sango's command the fire-cat demon was engulfed in flame as she took her larger from and the slayer was borne into the evening skies by her companion.

Miroku, the final one to depart took out his magic leaf to signal Hachi. Miroku's expression was grim as the fly happy creature took him north. "Be safe Kagome." he silently prayed. "If any harm befalls you I will bring that same injury upon your afflicter one-hundred fold!"