Unexpected Encounters

Chapter Four:

Stolen!

Miharu opened her eyes to see big brown ones staring back at her.

"EEEEE!" she screamed as she fell back. "Naoki!"

"What?" he replied. "It's time to go. Get up! You might put down roots!"

The whole group had been waiting for Miharu to wake up. All eight of them had already eaten their breakfast of granola bars that Kagome brought and were ready to leave.

"All right. Let me just get breakfast…"

"You can eat it on the road," Kuroda told her. "Right now we really need to get going."

"Alright, alright…" Miharu grumbled. She sat up and ran her hand down her face. "Why do we always have to get up so early?" she asked.

"Because we have to cover more than a mile or two a day," replied Naoki. "And at this rate, we'll have to put up camp as soon as we take it down," Miharu had to admit, he did have a point.

" Lady Miharu! You're up! Did you sleep well?" Miroku asked, inching closer to her.

"Touch me and die, monk," she said, looking at him through narrowed eyes.

"Eh hehe…" he laughed nervously.

A little ways away, Michiyo was talking with Kuroda.

"So, what do you think about this whole thing?" she said, motioning to their surroundings. "I mean, it is kinda weird,"

"Yeah, but I guess I'm okay with it. How 'bout you?"

"I guess I can believe it. Still…" she faded off.

"What?" Kuroda asked questioningly. "Is something wrong?"

She looked up into his concerned eyes. Was he worried about her?

"No, I just wish we didn't have to be so careful." She let out a sigh and looked out over the vast field in front of her. "I miss not having to look around every corner to make sure no one's going to leap out at you."

"Yeah, but at least we have Miharu and Naoki to keep us company."

"I guess…" she stood up and started to walk off.

"Hey! Where are you going?" Kuroda called to her.

"On a walk!" she said over her shoulder. "Want to come with?"

"Sure!" he got up and ran to catch up with her.

Miharu was playing a game of hide-and-go-seek with Shippo when she felt a funny feeling in her stomach.

"Kagome! Do you feel that?"

"Yeah! InuYasha, a jewel shard is nearby!"

InuYasha sniffed the air, smelling for signs of the possessor.

"Naraku," he harshly whispered. The half demon bound off in the direction of the scent.

"Come on!" Kagome called.

Sango looked to her right.

"Kirara!" she yelled.

The small kitten jumped in front of her and transformed into her ferocious feline form. She growled loudly and allowed Sango and Miroku to climb onto her back.

"Transform!" Shippo shouted and turned into the big pink blob form. Miharu, Kagome, and Naoki clamored onto him.

"Where are Michiyo and Kuroda?" Miharu said.

"I don't know, but they'll have to find us later!" Kagome told her.

Miharu nodded and looked toward the area of green field where the strange aura was coming from.

She saw a trail of light heading opposite them.

"There they are!" she pointed to the spot she saw three figures. One was InuYasha and the other two appeared to be a woman floating on a feather and a huge ogre.

"Wind Scar!" InuYasha screamed as he hurled another attack at the giant beast. The trail headed strait for the ogre, cutting its arm off. The creature cried out in pain as its limb fell to the ground beside it.

"It's Kagura!" Miroku voiced.

"Who's that?" Naoki asked Kagome.

" She's a detachment from Naraku." Kagome said "Come on! We have to help!"

She drew an arrow and let it fly, piercing the demons flesh above its knee. It knelt to the other knee.

Miharu and Naoki made two Kunai Knives appear and thrust them at the demons face. One gouged its eye and the other three fell in random places around it. The ogre clasped its hands over its face and began to howl in pain.

Miharu suddenly felt a sharp pain in her neck. And things started to go black. She groaned and fell to her knees.

Naoki looked back to his friend to see if she was all right after he heard her groan. He saw her collapse onto her knees and fall forward to the ground. On the side of her neck he saw a dart-like object.

"Miharu!" he yelled to her, starting to run towards her.

As he was running, he felt a something hard hit his back. He fell hard to the ground and looked up. He saw the woman, whom Kagome had called Kagura, flying up with Miharu on her feather.

"Miharu" he cried again, this time turning to Kagome. "Kagome!" he called desperately. Turning back, he saw Kagura disappear over the treetops.

"No…" he cried. "NO!"

"What's the matter?" Kagome said, running to him. InuYasha had just finished off the ogre and came sauntering over.

"Miharu!" he cried, tears now streaming down his face. "Kagura took Miharu!" He sobbed and took a shaky breath.

"Hey, everybody!" came a voice from behind. "What happened here?" Kuroda asked as he and Michiyo come running over. "Naoki, what's the matter? And where's Miharu?"

" Kagura kidnapped her!" Kagome said worriedly.

"What!" yelled InuYasha. "How could you let that happen, idiot! What's going to happen now that she's in Naraku's hands!"

Naoki began sobbing again, covering his red, puffy eyes and bowing his head.

"Come on Naoki," Kagome whispered. "Which way did they go? We need to follow them,"

He took a few shaky breaths, sniffed, and looked up at her.

"She headed in that direction." He pointed.

"I sense a huge demonic aura coming from beyond those trees!" Miroku said.

"Me too!" Michiyo exclaimed. Obviously she was a bit shaken but appeared, at least on the outside, calm and strong. "Lets get moving! We have to save Miharu!" With that she started to run off in the direction of the forest. She had to save her best friend!

Naoki came from behind her and raced ahead, a look of determination on his face. All he could think about was saving Miharu. That's all that really mattered.

Yo! Sorry it's been so long since I last updated. I'll try harder and won't be so lazy!

I have to thank gabby1123 for reviewing! So far she has been the only one!

Attention: I have decided not topost the next chapter until I get three more reviews! (Sorry Gabby but you don't count! If you try!)