Chapter 20 (Wow! I can't believe my stories so long!)

Later that day, after the engaged in there, 'special hug', they decided to go check-up on the village. Inuyasha hadn't seen anybody since he had come back from Shesshoumaru's castle, he still wouldn't tell Kagome he was there though.

"Come on!" She pleaded, her curiosity burning a hole straight through her, as the walked back to the village, Inuyasha's arm slung around her shoulders possessively.

He just smirked, and continued to shake his head.

When they came upon the village, there playfulness vanished instantly at the sight that lay before them.

Half the village was brunt to the ground.

Kagome's eyes widened as she took it all in, Where Keade's hut once stood, now was only a charbroiled stretch of ground. She could see villagers scurrying pack and forth between the few huts that were still standing, she could vaguely see the elderly woman's priestess robes.

Her and Inuyasha broke into a run, Inuyasha going slowly so as Kagome could keep up, and when they finally reached her, she was tending to a young girl, with black flowing hair sprawled out on the ground around her. She had her leg twisted to an odd angle, and her temple was bleeding, as she screamed, "Shippou! Find Shippou!"

"Aye, In a minute child." Kaede responded, as she dabbed at her temple.

"What do you mean find Shippou!" Kagome cried furiously, causing everyone, even Inuyasha, to jump slightly.

The old Miko looked up, and locked eyes with Kagome. "I'll speak with ye in a minute child." She said somberly. Before whispering more soothing words to the girl, and standing up, motioning for both of them to follow her.

As the reached the edge of the village, far away from any other people, Kaede finally stopped walking, and turned to them with sorrow filled eyes.

"What happened here hag?" Inuyasha asked indelicately, Kagome was to worried to even think about reprimanding him.

"T'was this morning. A large dragon youkai descended upon the village, Setting flames to huts. Miroku said it had the same aura as Naraku, so possibly a detachment."

Kagome had a hand over her mouth in horror, not wanting to believe as she felt Inuyasha hold on her shoulder tighten, then she managed to whisper, "Where are they?"

The elderly Miko looked at the ground, before replying, "Young Sango, was snatched by the dragon himself, While Miroku went after them on Kirara, Shippou was in a hut that caught fire with the young girl, " She motioned at the child who was being guided towards a hut that hadn't been destroyed, " We have not found him yet."

Kagome's knees crumpled bellow her, and she feel to the ground, sobbing into her hands, as Inuyasha pulled her to his chest. Every choking sob that wracked her body, jarred his heart a little more so, he could feel his own eyes burning, and begging for him to cry with her, but he wouldn't allow it, he swallowed the lump in his throat to look up at the retreating form of Kaede. She looked defeated. As if she had failed her people. But she hadn't, he had. He wasn't here to protect Shippou, Sango, and Miroku. He could have prevented this.

He didn't notice when Kagome suddenly stiffened in his arms, but he did, when she tore away from him, and started on an all out sprint towards Kaede.

He ran after her, and heard her ask the old hag which hut Shippou had been in.

Kaede pointed weakly at a hut that was still smoldering, it wasn't completely destroyed, but it was charcoal black, and in ruins.

Kagome again ran with all her strength, and when she got to the blackened hut, she started digging through the debris. Moving boards with her bare hands, getting blisters from the remaining heat.

Inuyasha jumped forward and tried to stop her, she was just going to hurt herself, when she let out a strangled cry, that even he couldn't identify.

She bent down, and pulled something black from the debris, but instantly dropped it, at how hot it was, before letting out another strangled cry. "Shippou! Wake up!"

Inuyasha moved forward, and saw the kit looked perfectly fine, like he was sleeping, covered in black soot. But surrounding him was a bluish aura.

"What the...?" He said, confusedly.

"It's fox fire! He used it to protect himself from the flames!" Kagome said, excitedly.

Inuyasha looked between the kitsune, and his mate, totally dumbfounded. "But how did you...?"

"I knew he couldn't have died, because he has to live to have Kyle later in the future. I would have ceased to exist had Shippou died." Kagome said, squatting down on her knees, and reaching toward the sleeping child. Her finger tips blistered the second the touched the blue aura. "OUCH!"

Inuyasha leaned down, and grabbed her hands, they were badly burned. "Come on. We can't move Shippou till he wakes up, you need to have Kaede take a look at these burns."

She pulled her hands out of his grasp, "She has enough people to worry about without me. And what about Sango and Miroku? we need to find them!" She cried.

"First, we need to get you bandaged!" He fought.

"I'm fine!"

"Are not! Now come on!"

"No"

"No?" He said incredulously, he had dragged her to her feet, but couldn't get her to move another step. "Whadda you mean 'no'?"

"I mean no. You don't own me, you can't control me." She said, crossing her arms over her chest, wincing as she jarred her burnt hands.

Inuyasha grinned evilly. "That's where your wrong girlie, you're my mate, and as my mate, you are my property, so if I say you have to come, guess what? You have to come!"

"Is that what I signed up for? To be your property?" She asked incredulously.

"Sure is, and you'll have to live with it for some time." He said, grabbing her waist, and slinging her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes.

He continued walking, when suddenly he heard a sob coming from the woman he was carrying, he quickly put her on the ground in front of him, and looked deep into her bloodshot eyes. "What is it?"

She wouldn't look at him, she felt disgusted even thinking about it. But she couldn't get the image out of her mind. She kept remembering what had happened when she reached her destination, the last time she'd been carried like that. It just brought everything back like a tidal wave.

Inuyasha was shaking her, trying to get her to tell him what was wrong, he was in a full-blown panic at seeing her break down like this, the tears flowing down her face like never ending mountain streams. He couldn't stand it.

"Damn it Kagome! What's wrong!" He demanded finally. She looked at him pleadingly.

"You can't be mad, or insulted if I tell you." she said, finding the ground at her feet suddenly very interesting. He grabbed her shoulders, and made her look at him. "Go on."

She took in a deep breath. "That was how my Father got me to my bedroom that day, by slinging me over his shoulder like that."

Inuyasha let go of her shoulders like he'd been burned. He hadn't known any of the details of what happened. Frankly, he didn't want to know anymore then he already did. And here he was, making her cry because he had reminded her of something that caused her pain. Was he always going to be the thing that made her cry?

"I'm sorry, I know you would never hurt me, it just came to mind when you did it!" She said, burring her face in her hands, when suddenly, she was pulled against his chest.

"Don't you dare apologize! It's my fault, I always make you cry, and I promise I'll try not to anymore, you're just gonna have to help me." He said into her hair, breathing in her scent. He pulled back, and looked into her chocolate orbs once more. "Now come on, you need Kaede to take a look at those burns." He said sternly.

"Your the boss" She said, then, in a quieter tone she said, "My beloved mate."

There was a slight smile on his face as he continued to look for the old priestess.

I'm so sorry I haven't update in so long! But you know how it is! School, drama, everything, I broke up with my boyfriend, and I'm working on getting a new one, so I'm totally freaking out, because I'm gonna ask this guy I really like out tomorrow, and you know. Everything is just spiraling out of control.

So, The plot thickens, Sango kidnapped, Miroku going off to play the hero, and Kags still being affected by her fathers rape. Shippou will be fine btw, and I put in a clue, that might be important later on in the story. so, I hope you all enjoyed! And I promise there will be a new chapter up at the latest, next Monday morning! (Not this Monday, next Monday, as in one week, sorry people! It's the best I can do!)

PSS: Sry it's so short!

This chapter is also dedicated to those who lost there lives in Katrina's fury. And to those who lost there homes, there whole lives in fact, in a matter of days. God bless, and good luck to all those who did survive. (Note: All my chapters, and even this whole story, is dedicated to the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. )

I'm the all powerful Fu Fu!
Mwahahahaha!
(Sry, had the urge)

Disclaimer:
Why aren't they mine?
I wish they were
But I'll settle for terrorizing them
(Grin)