Hello!

I just want to say THANK YOU if you have read this far. I also want to say THANK YOU to Demon-dreamgirl, Kouga's sweetheart, Starlight Maiden 1216, inuyashalover0210, heartgirl9229, and gabby1123 for reviewing! THANK YOU!

Okay…Now on with the story!

Chapter 6

Found!

"Hey Michiyo, wake up." Was all that was heard that morning. Everyone had picked up from that nights camp and was headed out for another long day of walking.

After many hours of walking, a bleak castle appeared in the distance.

"Jewel Shards!" exclaimed Kagome.

"A strong demonic aura!" observed Miroku.

"Naraku," breathed InuYasha.

But when the castle came into view, so did the demons that were guarding it. Kagura was standing above the large group of demons, shouting out orders.

Everyone continued at a much faster pace, especially Naoki. As they reached the outer limits of the castle, the demons began to attack.

Soon everybody had a demon they were fighting. Kuroda killed one and continued on to another. Michiyo was quickly going through them and was now fighting a large centipede demon. It swung at her with its tail. She dodged it just in time but wasn't ready for it when the appendage came right back.

She was getting ready for the impact but instead felt herself being pushed to the ground. The tail had missed her. She looked over to see Kuroda on his stomach , looking at her.

"Are you alright?" he asked.

"Yeah, I'm fine." she smiled and got up, pulling him to his feet. After this she charged at another demon, kicking it too the side and sticking her hand through its gut. "EEEEWWW!" she shrieked, disgusted.

Kuroda smiled and continued on with the fight.

"Arrrg!" a demon screamed, falling to the ground. Naoki stepped out behind it and pulled his Kunai Knives out of its neck. He persisted on at a fast pace, demons declining in his wake.

"Backlash Wave!" InuYasha yelled, hurling his attack at Kagura. She conjured Dance of the Dragon and blocked it.

Kagome readied one of her arrows and let it fly, almost piercing Kagura's kimono.

As they all continued demolishing the demons, Naoki noticed a barrier being brought up.

"No!" Naoki yelled. He would not let them shut him out from Miharu.

He dashed forward and leaped, barely making it inside. He stood up and ran up the large flight of stairs ahead of him.

This led to a long hallway, doors lining every side. He began to call to Miharu, listening for any sign of her. He looked in every door he came across and was not having any luck. He had rounded a corner and was still looking in every room.

He had been searching for about fifteen minutes, calling her and wildly looking around.

"Miharu! Miharu!"

He checked in a few more doors, winding his way around the hallways of the castle.

"Miharu!"

This time he heard a response. A jingle of metal and a muffled cry lead him to an iron door. He quickly reached forward and pushed the door open. He dashed inside and stopped.

Before him was a wide-eyed Miharu, chained up and gagged with large gashes and a bruise on her cheek.

"Miharu!" he cried as he rushed forward.

"Mmmmm!" she cried back, her eyes tearing up.

He got two Kunai Knives and used them like a chisel to break the chains.

Miharu fell from her bindings and was caught by a joyful Naoki, causing them to both fall backwards.

"Naoki!" she cried burying her face in his chest. "I thought you'd never come!" she sobbed.

"You're okay!" he said drawing her closer to him. He wrapped his arms tightly around her back and put his cheek on her head.

He leaned down and kissed her right temple.

"I missed you," he whispered.

"I missed you too!" she cried onto his shoulder. She tearfully looked up into his eyes and saw the happiness shining.

He leaned down and lightly pressed his lips against hers, then pulling back again.

"Don't ever do that again." he told her.

"I won't," she sniffed. He ran his finger over the first cut and bruise. She winced as the pain came.

"Are you okay?" he asked, tipping his head to look at the rest along her face and neck. "What happened?"

"Oh, it's nothing." She quickly said, covering the large one up with her hand. Naoki knew she was lying. He would get it out of her later.

"Come on," he said, lifting her up to her feet. As he let go, she began to collapse back to the floor. He quickly caught her again and lifted her up bridal style.

"Sorry, but that's what happens when you chained up for two weeks." She stated, irritated because she couldn't stand up.

"It's okay. Ready?" he asked her.

She kissed him lightly.

"Ready."

Naoki began to make his way around the long hallways until he found the arch he had entered through.

The battle had just been won by Michiyo and Sango. The large ogre had fallen to the ground and stayed still. Sango grew her sword out of it's back and sheathed it again.

When the couple walked down the steps, Michiyo looked up. Her eyes widened and a smile spread across her face.

"Miharu!" she laughed. As she ran forward, Naoki let her down and steadied her. Michiyo reached them and wrapped her arms around her best friend. She pulled back and began to examine Miharu. She started to reach forward to touch her cheek, but she leaned back into Naoki and covered her cut.

"Miharu, what happened?" she asked.

"Nothing. It's okay. I'm fine." she told Michiyo quietly.

This was the moment that the rest of the group reached the trio. Kuroda walked up to her first and smiled down at her. Then he reached down and gave her a big hug. He looked up at Naoki and winked. Naoki smiled and winked back. Kuroda stood to the side and put his arm around a smiling Michiyo.

Next to greet her was Sango and Kagome. They both gave her a small hug, so they didn't hurt her, and stood back. Next was Shippo, Kirara, and Miroku. Shippo jumped from Kirara's head into Miharu's arms.

"Miharu! You're back!" he smiled gleefully.

Miroku walked up and put a hand around her waist. He looked to the now completed group and smiled widely.

"Well, we need to get going! The jewel shards await!" he declared, reaching down and stroking Miharu's butt. Her cheeks blushed a light pink.

Before Miharu or even Sango could do anything, Miroku found a fist swiftly connecting with his face. He was sent sprawling to the grassy ground.

Naoki brought is hand back to his side and looked down at Miharu, grinning sheepishly. He picked her up again as she began to sag in his arms.

She smiled up at him and cuddled closer into his chest. He cradled her in his arms and the group began to walk in the direction Kagura had gone.

After a couple hours of walking, all of them unrolled their sleeping bags or mats. Everyone then, but two sat down for dinner, ramen again.

Naoki stood beside a tree, watching Miharu gaze up at the full moon and the starry sky. She drew her knees up and wrapped her arms around them. Resting her chin on them, she closed her eyes and took in a deep breath, slowly letting it out.

Naoki walked over to Miharu and sat next to her. For a while they just sat with each other.

"So how did you get that scratch?" he asked suddenly.

"Kagura." She said without averting her eyes.

"Oh." he said. "How did she do it?"

"She scraped a dagger across my cheek."

"Oh." he said again.

"Naoki?" she paused for a little bit. "Do you love me?" she asked, looking up into his soft brown eyes.

After a couple of seconds of silence he gave her his answer.

"Yes."

She looked away and smiled.

After that she scooted closer to him and rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes.

" I love you, too." She whispered.

Draping his arm around her shoulders, he looked down at her and smiled, placing a slow kiss on her head and rested his on it.

After a while, he also closed his eyes and fell into a peaceful sleep. Miharu was safe back with him. He was content with the for the moment.

Hello! So how did you like it? I'm not that good with romantic stuff so I hope it was okay. I'm kinda grounded from the computer right now so I risked my health to update. I might not be able to for a while! Sorry!