Happy December! 'throws confetti' It's the wonderful month of December! You know what that means? ... Neither do I. ANYway, sorry it took longer than expected, but at least my new chapter is here! And please, people, since I'm no longer allowed to post review replies on my stories (that was the best part!), sign in/give your email addresswhen leaving a comment! That way I can get back to you and such! Well, anyway, I hope you enjoy this story, but first...

:Disclaimer:

Leiko: Hurray for December. Woot.
Akana: You'll have to excuse her unexcitement... You see, the more excited I get, the less she gets! 'nods hyperly'
Leiko: Oi. That's annoying. Stop.
Akana: 'whisper' See what I mean? Well, I hope you all have a wonderful month of December! 'throws more confetti' I also hope that the Inuyasha crew (whom we don't own) has a great December month! WHEEEE!
Kagome: Er... No more sugar for you... 'sweatdrop'

:End Disclaimer:

ENJOY! 'twitch, twitch'

Chapter 13: Hostage

"Kirara, what's wrong?" Sango asked above the roar of the wind as the flying cat suddenly changed course with a small growl. Behind her, Inuyasha was gripping Kirara's fur a bit tighter, and his teeth were clenched. Miroku was riding now also; he'd gotten tired, Inuyasha wanted to hurry, and Kirara suddenly found that she could actually carry 4 peoplebut only if Shippou was one of them. That was just something that this authoress overlooked so Miroku would suffer for a while. Or maybe the authoress just forgot. Or maybe this authoress should stop talking about this authoress and get on with the story.

"Naraku," Inuyasha spat out, as if the name tasted bad in his mouth. "One of his new incarnations has her! Dammmit!" He lifted his hands and punched one into the other with another "dammit" coupled with a deep, long growl of frustration.

They had been close. Very close. Inuyasha had been able to smell Kagome. He'd been able to smell the demon, and then he'd been able to smell Sesshoumaru as he saved her. Then, just as they were almost to her, she was snatched away.

It was annoying, to say the very least.

It was also annoying when a cat demon, bearing a half breed rider and his friends, swooped down and flew next to Sesshoumaru. He slowed down a bit reluctanctly, curious as to what the pests wanted.

"Damn you!" Inuyasha shouted from atop Kirara. "How dare you? You let Naraku get her! Dammit, Sesshoumaru! I swear, if Kagome gets hurt, I'll kill you! Stealing her yourself to get Tetsusaiga is one thing, but letting NARAKU get her?" He then proceeded to use a numerous amount of curses, many of which aren't suitable for this story.

Sesshoumaru sent an icy cold glare his way. He loathed being told off, especially by his little brother. "And how many times have you failed to protect the wench?" Sesshoumaru asked cooly, calmly, collectively. He didn't stick around for an answer; he sped up and left Inuyasha, gaping for words, in his dust.

When Kagome had regained enough sense to know that she was being taken away, she immediately wanted it to stop. "Put me down!" she commanded. She didn't exactly sound very formidable, seeing as how her voice was wavering from fear. "I-I mean it! Put me down right now!"

"No can do," said the demon carrying her. "I'm under strict orders to bring you straight to Naraku." The demon had long raven black hair and piercing yellow eyes. His pointed ears stuck out from his hair a bit as he grinned down at Kagome. "He's got plans to use you to lure out Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha, and then you're going to be insurance. Sort of a hostage, if you will."

Kagome nearly groaned aloud. You've got to be kidding me! "What exactly does he want?" she asked, becoming scared once more. Being Sesshoumaru's hostage was one thing; he was (for the most part) true to his word. Naraku, however... Who knew what he'd try to pull?

"How should I know?" the demon asked. "I'm just his servant. Although," he added after a few seconds' thought, "he did say something about wanting to get both Sesshoumaru and Inuyasha in the same place..."

"What? Why?"

"You're asking me like I know."

Kagome's mind immediately went to work contemplating what Naraku would want with the two brothers. He can't beat them in a fight, she thought. The last time he tried, they almost killed him! But... He's probably gotten stronger by then... What if he's too strong? What if Inuyasha's in danger?

There was, of course, nothing she could do about it. The best she could hope to do would be to struggle and try to get away from the demon, which, of course, wasn't working in the least. Eventually, she gave up. In hopeless despair, she asked one more question.

"What's your name?"

This took the demon rather by surprise. His eyes had been on the path ahead, but now he stopped and just stared at Kagome, blinking a bit. He stayed like this for a few minutes, not saying a word. "Kenichi," he finally spoke. "Why?"

"Just wondering so that I could stop calling you 'the demon' in my mind."

"Oh... That makes sense, I guess..." Kenichi continued along his journey at the same ultra super fast speed as he was going before. He did have somewhere to be, after all.

Eventually, Kagome wondered why they weren't there yet. If they were going that fast, wouldn't it be a matter of minutes until they got to the castle? She voiced this observation a few minutes after wondering it.

Kenichi shrugged casually. "I just decided to run around and through a few forests to throw your friends off the trail," he answered in the same casual manner. "Sesshoumaru probably won't get confused, but Inuyasha will for sure."

Kagome said nothing for a little while, and for a little while there was peace without a sound but rushing wind. "Why are you doing all this?" she asked after some time of this.

"So they won't catch us," he responded as though it were obvious.

"No, I mean... Working for Naraku," she explained. "You're strong enough to beat him, right? You're definitely fast enough. So, why?"

He looked up towards the sky for a minute or so in thought. When he finally looked down at Kagome, it was with a blank expression. "I don't know. I guess I've just never given it much thought." He paused for a moment, then his expression became slightly confused. "Wait, why am I telling all of this to a human like you? It's none of your business!" He looked back ahead and said nothing more.

Kagome wasn't foolish; she asked no more questions. At least, not until a large castle loomed overhead. Then she asked one final question in a fearful. "Is that Naraku's castle?"

"Yep."

Indeed, Sesshoumaru wasn't getting confused with all the running around Kenichi did. He somehow figured out which was the straightest path and took it instead of running around in circles like a fool. Don't ask me how he figured it out; he's just good like that! Besides, I'm only a simple authoress who is in control of the story! Wait a minute... That means I would know... Okay, I'm just too lazy to think of something.

As he went, he wondered what Naraku would want with her. He knew that she could sense the jewel shards, so maybe he wanted her to work for him or something. Why should I care? he thought after contemplating for a few minutes. She's nothing to me, only a hostage. If she dies, oh well; I just find some other way to get the Tetsusaiga.

Those these were his thoughts, he didn't really feel that way. Something told him that he had to protect her. They had truly become... What was the word?

No. Not friends. Sesshoumaru had no friends.

Well-known aqquaintances. That was a better phrase.

Sesshoumaru felt that he had to protect his well-known aqquaintance.

Doesn't it just kind of roll off the toungue?

Okay, okay; this authoress will stop stalling and get on with the story.

Especially since something interesting is happening.

After about 30 minutes of searching and smelling a deciphering the right path, Sesshoumaru came to a place that some like to call pure evil. Others like to call it the most horrible place in the world. Now, I don't know about you, but I just call it Naraku's castle. It saves having to explain to anyone without half a brain cell what you mean.

As Sesshoumaru stood and looked at it, he nearly growled aloud, but he made sure to keep his emotions in check. "Naraku," he called out in a clear, cold voice, "come out now. Or are you too cowardly?"

A poofy cloud of smoke that was presumably poison miasma marked Naraku entrance. Indeed, when the miasma drifted away on the wind to cause all sorts of havoc elsewhere, Naraku was standing there with a rather smug look on his face. For once, he wasn't clad in babboon skin, and was instead in his normal lord robes. He gave a small chuckle as he looked at Sesshoumaru. "Lord Sesshoumaru," he drawled in mock-courtesy, "You've made it. Where is your half breed brother, I wonder? Still out searching a way to get here?"

"Where's the wench?" Sesshoumaru asked icily, ignored Naraku's question.

"Don't worry, she's safe," he answered with the same tone of voice. "For now," he added.

"What do you want?"

"Simple; to get rid of you and Inuyasha."

Sesshoumaru nearly laughed aloud. Naraku, kill him? Him? "I will not be beaten by lowly demon scum like you. However, if it is a fight you want," Sesshoumaru drew Toukijin at this point, "it is a fight you'll get."

Naraku smirked. "You can't beat me." Sesshoumaru ignored the remark and instead sent a blue attack straight towards Naraku, who let the attack wash over his barrier. "You see?" he asked cockily. "You can't even break through my barrier. How do you expect to harm me?"

It was an intriguing question indeed, but Sesshoumaru knew that there was some way to get to Naraku. He had only to think of it.

"Follow Sesshoumaru's scent, Kirara," Inuyasha commanded. Kirara obliged, and Inuyasha kept his eyes fixed ahead for any signs of Naraku's castle. "Naraku's incarnation twisted around to confuse us, but, as much as I hate to admit it, Sesshoumaru would be able to tell where to go. If we follow the path he went in, it should take us directly to Naraku." He once more envoked the use of the "d" word which I tire of writing.

Miroku and Sango nodded their agreement. Miroku was behind Sango, who was in front, and he could see how worried she was. He carefully placed his chin on her shoulder. "It'll be okay," he said soothingly with a smile. "We'll get Kagome back."

Sango started blushing at how close their faces were to each other. "Miroku," she started, "I never really got to thank you for your plan to get Kagome back the other day..."

"Why, my lady Sango," he said, this time with a mischevious grin, "you can give me your thanks by letting me --- " One quick slap and he immediately removed his hand from its previous resting point; the backside of a now enraged demon slayer.

"What an idiot," Shippou commented from Inuyasha's shoulder. Once the brief excitement was over, he looked at Inuyasha. "We're going to find Kagome soon, right?" he asked in a small voice. "We'll rescuse her from Naraku, right?"

Inuyasha remained quiet for a few minutes. His thoughts lingered on what Sesshoumaru had said earlier. "How many times have you failed to protect the wench?" echoed in his mind. There were plenty of times when he'd let her fall into the clutches of Naraku and numerous other demons. She'd been put in danger more times than he could count, and all because of his failing to protect her. In the end, everything had always worked out, true enough, but he always feared that one day he would be too late, that one day he wouldn't get to her in time to save her. What if today was that day? What if Naraku actually killed her? What if --

No. He wouldn't allow himself to think such thoughts. "Yeah, we're going to save her, Shippou. We're going to save her."

It just so happens that at that very moment the wind was blowing in the direction they were headed. This means that anyone who was behind them would immediately be smelled by Inuyasha, which was exactly the case. He turned his head nad looked over his shoulder at a brown speck that was slowly getting larger and turning intoa two-headed dragon with two passengers. "Kirara, slow down for a minute," Inuyasha said slowly, puzzled as to why Sesshoumaru's pet dragon was heading towards them.

In a few minutes, Ah Un was flying along next to Kirara. "Inuyasha, have you seen Lord Sesshoumaru around?" Jaken asked.

"Why do you want to know?" Inuyasha asked right back, weary already of having to talk to the imp.

"It is none of your -- "

"Ah Un was telling us to come," Rin spoke up, interrupting Jaken. She was carrying a small bouquet of flowers as she rode. "He was motioning for us to get on, and when we did, he started taking us in this direction." She was surprising everyone, including herself, at how much she was talking to strangers, but she really wanted to know where her lord was.

Inuyasha shrugged. "Maybe he went this way, maybe not," he said non-committedly.

Sango rolled her eyes and smiled kindly at Rin. "Yes, he's been this way," she answered. "We're trying to find him and Kagome. They're near Naraku, so you might not want to come. It's too dangerous."

Rin shook her head vigorously at this suggestion. "I'm going," she said with firm determination. "I'll follow Lord Sesshoumaru anywhere he goes, no matter what."

Inuyasha slightly growled in frustration. "Yeah, well, that's all good and dandy," he said quickly, "but we need to go get Kagome before something happens to her!" He urged Kirara forward, and they left Rin and Jaken in their dust just as Sesshoumaru had left them in his.

"You are a coward," Sesshoumaru spoke at last after a few minutes of silence had passed between him and Naraku. "Hiding behind a barrier like that... How pathetic. Are you afraid, Naraku? Is that why you will not come from behind there and truly fight?"

Naraku gave another of his rather annoying chuckles. "Afraid?" he echoed. "Nay, I am only cautious. I know of your power, and I know you have a grudge against me. Even without the barrier, I am stronger than you, but it is a safety measure."

Sesshoumaru was getting tired of Naraku and his over estimation of himself. He was but a half demon, and Sesshoumaru could quite easily slice him in two -- if he weren't hiding behind a barrier. Even so, Sesshoumaru would find a way to defeat him. He wasn't exactly sure how yet, but he'd figure something out.

"Kenichi, come here," Naraku commanded.

A figure seemed to melt out from the shadows of the castle. It was, of course, Kenichi, and as he stepped away from the wall, he bowed slightly. "Yes, Naraku?" he asked, awaiting his orders.

Naraku answered, never taking his eyes from Sesshoumaru, "Bring the girl." Kenichi bowed once more and melted again with the shadows, heading for the castle's dungeon.

The previous half hour of Kagome's life had been a very busy time during which she was tossed unceremoniously into a jail cell, laughed at by a passing Kagura, talked to by Kenichi, creeped out by a passing Kanna, talked to again by Kenichi, breifly acknowledged by a passing Kohaku, and then finally carried to who knew where by Kenichi, who was talking to her again.

She wished she'd never asked his name back in the forest. Before she'd done so, he'd been quiet, but now he wouldn't shut up. He talk about the most random things imaginable. He talked about how cheerful the weather was outside as compared to the dark dungeon inside, and he spoke of how Naraku was a piece of shit who could go to hell for making them do all his dirty work. A few times, Kenichi asked Kagoem a question, such as did she have any siblings. She'd told him yes, a younger brother, and he went off on how he wished he had a kid brother. It was starting to get a little annoying, and Kagome was almost glad when they came outside.

Almost.

Kenichi was finally silent again, but a wave of nausea and disgust swept over Kagome at the sight of Naraku. Here was the one who was responsible for all of her friends' problems. Here was the one who held Sango's brother captive with no memory of who he was. Here was the one who'd cursed Miroku's grandfather with the wind tunnel that had gotten passed onto him. Here was the one who, so many years ago, turned Inuyasha and Kikyou against each other and made them betray one another. Here was the lowest scum in the earth, and he had her in his clutches.

Oh, joy.

Sesshoumaru tensed up very slightly, a motion that went unnoticed. He was supposed to protect that girl. He was supposed to protect his fri -- er, "well-known aqquaintance". He was supposed to protect her, but what had he done? He'd watched her get kidnapped right form under his nose, very literally. He'd failed miserably. Now, he had to figure out a way not only to destroy Naraku, but also to get Kagome back to safety before he did so.

"If you attack me," Naraku said, "Kenichi will kill her. She is my hostage now."

Sesshoumaru thought of the irony for a moment before dismissing it quickly.

Kagome looked at Kenichi fearfully. An apologetic gleam was in his eyes as he positioned his claws just above her neck. At least he was feeling sorry for doing what he was doing.

Sesshoumaru growled a deep, low menacing growl, to which Naraku made a snide remark about actually having feelings for a human. "She is my hostage," he explained, somehow managing to keep the anger out of his voice. "She is my way of getting Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga."

"She is my insurance," Naraku said, the smirk never leaving his face. "I must make sure that I can kill you without any resistance."

Now Sesshoumaru was faced with a choice. A tough choice. If he attacked, Kagome died. If he didn't attack or fight back, he died. He also had a sneaking suspicion that, no matter what he chose, Naraku would kill her anyway. Still, he somehow couldn't quite bring himself to condemn her to immediate death. There was a chance, though somewhat slim, of Naraku letting her live.

He was truly torn between the two choices. He who had killed in cold blood felt he ought to protect his well-known aqquaintance. There was only one thing he could think of to do, and it didn't apply to either of the choices Naraku had given him.

"You think I care about a pathetic human?" he asked.

This shook Naraku a bit, took him by surprise, but he didn't show it. "Oh? I thought she was your hostage for getting the Tetsusaiga?"

"I can simply get another hostage," he answered, not missing a beat. "That fool Inuyasha would trade his sword for any of his pathetic friends." He dearly hoped Naraku would not call his bluff.

Kagome couldn't believe what she was hearing. Was Sesshoumaru really saying he didn't care about her? That couldn't be true! He'd saved her quite a few times, and she thought that they were actually on the road to becoming friends! So much for that notion. Didn't she know that Sesshoumaru had no friends?

Naraku shrugged. "Then you won't mind if Kenichi kills her right now," he said simply. "If Inuyasha comes and finds her dead, he'll fight with you about it for not protecting her or something of the sort. That should be interesting to see. Kenichi, kill her."

Sesshoumaru's breath caught in his throat. Naraku had done it. Naraku had called his bluff. Now Kagome was in deep trouble, and everyone knew it.

She closed her eyes tightly and prepared for the blow. Her thoughts were trailing somewhere along the lines of How could Sesshoumaru do something like this to me?

Sesshoumaru was feeling a foreign emotion. He'd felt it only a few times in his life. For Rin, the feeling had come four times. For Jaken, admittedly, he'd felt it once. Never for himself. Now he was feeling it for this girl, for Kagome.

It was a feeling he loathed possibly more than love. He loathed the helplessness that washed over him. He loathed the utter despair that came also. He loathed the feeling of being unable to do anything to save the girl's life. He loathed it all.

This feeling which was so heavy and horrible and washed over him in waves was a horrible one. It made his heart skip a few beats. It made his palms start to sweat. It made him want to shout, to scream, to do something other than stand there and watch. If only his legs didn't feel like lead weights... If only his voice weren't stuck in his throat... If only he hadn't made such a dangerous bluff... If only he'd been faster and had caught up to Kenichi before he reached the castle... If only he'd sensed that there were two demons at the river... If only he hadn't let Kagome go and get water... If only, if only, if only...

This feeling which came in such an extraordinary amount was known by a single word.

Fear.

Ooooh... Cliff hanger... That's gotta suck... XP Please don't hurt me! My goal for this month is to remain alive! Oh, yeah, and to finish this story and put up a special Christmas story. Well, please review! Reviews are what help me write faster! 'nods' Since I know how I want this to end for the most part, you can expect the next chapter up relatively soon. Sayonara, and enjoy the cliffy!