Chapter 52

Kagome was snapped awake by a snarl, one she knew all too well. Pushing herself up, she saw Sesshomaru throwing the covers off of him and quickly standing to his feet. His eyes were red, and she knew that meant something was wrong.

"Sesshomaru?" She gripped at the blanket, worried. Her reiki was nonexistent now, and it wouldn't be back until the twins were born. She couldn't even sense whatever it was that Sesshomaru had sensed. Again, she felt useless.

"There is an unknown male at the edge of our land." Sesshomaru dressed quickly, then walked around the bed towards her. "You will stay here until I return, Kagome. Do not leave the house." He kissed her quickly, and then left.

Kagome stared after him, wishing that she could help. Standing to her feet, she walked along the wall, keeping one hand on it for support. When she looked out the window, she saw nothing out of the ordinary. Sesshomaru was already gone and out of sight, investigating whatever the source was nearby.

They didn't get visitors often. Lately the family had been coming by to see her and check on her status with the twins, but no unknown visitors had come. This was the first since they had moved into their home. She had a feeling this person was hostile. The way Sesshomaru had reacted, his red eyes, he was in protective mode, not curious.

Making it to their living room, Kagome sat down on the couch, grateful there was a little bit of tea left out from the night before. It was still warm from the night before. It had only been about an hour or so since they had fallen asleep. She was tired, but her worry for Sesshomaru would make it impossible for her to sleep.

"Daddy will be back soon. There's no need to worry." She rubbed her belly, not sure if she was comforting her twins or herself. She took a sip of her tea, hoping it would be enough to calm her down. She needed to keep a clear mind and a calm soul. She didn't want to panic while so heavily pregnant.

The sound of a twig breaking just outside of the door had Kagome straightening. The door opened, and she smiled. "Sess-" She stopped cold as she realized it wasn't Sesshomaru that had walked in, but Kagura. "How did you get past the barrier?"

"I had a little help." Kagura shut the door behind her, grinning at Kagome. "This plan worked out a lot easier than I expected. To think, all I needed to do was to have someone distract Sesshomaru, and then he would leave you alone and unprotected. It's all too easy." Kagura laughed, and Kagome didn't waste any time. They had a safe room in the basement, and if Kagome could make it there, she would be able to hide away.

However, the moment she stood to run, Kagura slammed her against the wall, making her cry out as her belly pressed harshly against it. Mouth next to Kagome's ear, Kagura grinned. "You won't get away this time, Kagome. I'll kill you and that mutt in your belly." Her hand came down hard on Kagome's head, and Kagome's world went dark. Her last thought was for Sesshomaru.

Kagura looked down at the woman laying on the floor. She had crumpled on her side so easily. As expected for a human. Grabbing the incense out of her pocket, Kagura lit it with a match, and then threw it into the fireplace so it could burn. It would cover her scent and leave Sesshomaru's nose a muddled mess. It will give her time to get away. Picking up Kagome carelessly, she left the house, and took to the skies. The rest of her plan would take place elsewhere.

A flash of fear surged through their bond, And Sesshomaru came to a screeching halt. He had been chasing the fool that thought to encroach on his territory, but he had gotten nowhere near him. He would get a glimpse of short white hair, and then the bastard would disappear again.

Now he knew why. It was a diversion. "Kagome." Sesshomaru breathed as the bond went quiet, and then he was orbing back as quickly as he could. When he arrived, the front door was opened, swinging softly. He rushed in, his nose being assaulted by a putrid smell.

Locating the source of the scent, he picked it up, crushing it in his hand, before looking around the room. His eyes zeroed in on a red smear on the wall, and he slowly stepped up to it, hand shaking as he ran a thumb over it. Warm and fresh blood. His nose was ruined from the incense. He couldn't even smell the blood, but he knew it was Kagome's. It had to be.

Swallowing as his eyes bled red, Sesshomaru backed away and out of the house. She wasn't there anymore, or he would have heard her. Stepping back into the meadow, Sesshomaru tried to breathe in the scent's around him, but he couldn't. His senses were still too messed up. Whoever did this had planned this out. Kagome had been the target all along and he had fallen right into their trap.

He needed a fresh nose, he needed help. Once more enveloping himself in his orb, he flew to the shiro, not stopping until he was slamming into his fathers room. Touga shot up with a snarl as Yona began to scream with freight, but one look at Sesshomaru, and he was relaxing.

"What is wrong?" Touga stood, grabbing his pants from the floor and slipping them on. He gave Izayoi her discarded clothing and she dressed under the covers before running to Yona. "Are the twins coming?"

"Kagome has been kidnapped." Sesshomaru barely sounded like himself. His beast was in complete control, and for once, Sesshomaru let him go. He needed to protect Kagome and the twins, to get them back unharmed.

"What? How?" Izayoi bounced Yona, coming to stand beside Touga.

"It was a trap. I felt a hostile male at the edge of our lands. I went after him. He led me on a chase, and while I was gone, someone else came to take Kagome. I found blood, but nothing else." Sesshomaru's claws dug into his own palms, fear and panic threatening to overtake him.

"Was there a scent when you returned home? Something we can follow?" Touga was fully dressed by now, ready to go at a moment's notice. They just needed a plan.

"They used an incense. I can smell nothing." Sesshomaru hated to admit a weakness. He felt as if he had failed Kagome. If anything happens to either Kagome or the twins, he would never forgive himself. If they died, he would follow them. "I cannot follow her without help."

"Okay." Touga shot out his aura and heard as the rest of the household woke. Within a matter of moments, Miroku was running into the room with Satori. Sango stayed behind with Sakura. Touga looked at them, knowing he had to be quick. "Kagome has been taken. We do not have time to explain. I expect you two to keep Izayoi, Sango, and the children safe until we return." Miroku tried to ask a question, but before he could, Sesshomaru and Touga were gone.

They landed in the meadow, both looking up at the clouds rolling in. They needed to hurry. If it began to rain, they would never catch Kagome's scent. Slowly spinning around, Touga breathed in the smells around him, growling when he caught a hint of blood. Kagome. It went straight up, and then disappeared, carried away.

"She was taken by air. I smell her blood." Cloud forming under his feet, he followed the scent until he no longer could. It was very faint, nearly hidden by the smell of Kagome's blood, but he caught it. The person who took Kagome. "Kagura."

Sesshomaru snarled, blaming himself even more. He should have known. Kagura had never been one to sit back and accept things that were going anyway other than the way she wanted. It was no surprise that Kagura was the one behind this, he just wished he had prevented it. "She will harm Kagome and the twins. I have no doubt."

"You're right." Touga looked around, trying to guess which way they went. There was no more scent trail to follow. Kagura was a wind demon. She was able to blow away her scent while in the air. "Tell me of the male you chased. Was it Naraku?"

"No. He had short white hair, wore a black outfit." Sesshomaru hadn't seen enough of the male to get any more description than that. "This is my fault."

"No. It's Kagura's fault, possibly Naraku's." Touga understood where Sesshomaru was coming from. If it had been Izayoi, InuYasha, or Yona that had been taken, Touga would feel the same until they were back in his arms and safe. "We are going to find her. We just have to think. We know Kagura took her, and that she was working with a male we know nothing about. This is underhanded like Naraku, but I don't think he has anything to do with this."

"No. Kagura is doing this because she wants me. With Kagome out of the way, she will think she can swoop in and take her place. She is a fool." Sesshomaru lifted his hand, staring at his claws. "I will gut her."

"First we find her, and quickly." Touga stiffened as he felt a new presence against his aura, but relaxed when he recognized it. "Nona." Lowering himself back to the ground, he met the witch, curious as to why she was here.

"I had a dream and came as soon as I could." She looked between them, knowing she was too late. "I had hoped to stop Kagome from being taken. Coming myself was faster than sending a letter, but I am still too late." Lifting her hand, a small flame appeared in her hand. "Find that which has been lost, hurry, for three souls are in danger, lead the way so that they may be saved." The fire seemed to shudder and then it shot away, stopping along the edge of the meadow. "Go, Lord Touga and Lord Sesshomaru. Follow the flame and save my friend."

"Thank you." Touga nodded at her, then they were gone, taking off after the fire that rushed through the forest. They needed Kagome to hold on for a moment longer, just long enough for them to find her and kill Kagura. They were coming, and they would destroy anything in their path.

"I did not expect you to succeed." Naoshi walked around the unconscious Kagome, circling her. She was so vulnerable, so broken. He could hurt her so badly right then, but he refrained. He wanted this to be perfect. "You used the incense and ensured your scent was erased?"

"Yes. They won't know who took her or where I am." Kagura looked at her claws, trying to keep from glaring at the bastard. She hated him with a passion but had to play along for now. After he had taken her, he had left her battered and bruised, telling her when and where to meet so they could go through with their plan.

When she returned home, Naraku had known exactly what had happened between her and Naoshi, and he had been furious. She didn't understand why he was so angry. He normally didn't care who she slept with, but one whiff of Naoshi, and he had nearly killed her. She had been brutalized by Naoshi just to go home and be poisoned by her father until he saw fit. She hated her life. Soon she would have Sesshomaru and everything would be perfect.

"Good. I will leave her to you then. When she wakes, I expect you to kill her. Let her die knowing that you are going to take her mate. It will be poetic, don't you think?" Naoshi laughed, nudging the miko with her foot. "You could even kill the twin souls in her belly first." He could feel the souls inside of her, knew there were two of them. "A woman would beg for death watching as her twins were torn from her and killed. The final blow would be losing her mate. Break her, shatter her, and then kill her. Only then will she know never to steal from me again." He walked away then, leaving Kagura behind as Kagome groaned and began to stir. This would be interesting.