A/N- I do not own Inuyasha

*I will have another chapter out tonight or tomorrow. I have sooo many projects I am working on: a comic strip (The Eclectic Mother) a serial (Brielle's Choice: An Alien Mate Reverse Harem) YouTube random movies, and finishing book three of my original Mana Storm series. See Profile for details. I am making a schedule of updates. Saturday and Monday will be for Pawn in Arms. Anything extra will be extra moments I have to throw in some more words. This is going to be a long fic - I see it around the 100k mark or more depending on how things go.

Chapter 6- The Stowaway

"Where could they be? They are both too conspicuous to just disappear." Miroku sighed into the stale air of the closed room. He had been informed, late, in his opinion, of the burgeoning relationship between Kagome and the Daiyoukai Sesshomaru. The Lady Hisaki had told Raigon, the District Head of the Slayers, that she was aware her son intended to carry Kagome off from the first day.

The photo evidence she produced to prove their relationship had been compelling. Intimate dinners, playing games in Sesshomaru's private suite of rooms – all in all, Miroku would not blame anyone for believing Hisaki's tale. He would too if it were not for Sango's insistence that the Lady was lying.

Kouga snorted. "Like I am supposed to know that?"

Miroku kneeled on the floor of the wellhouse. Deft fingers plucked the single ivory piece from the dusty corner of the room. He turned it over in his hand. "Isn't this Sesshomaru's? Kagome told Sango that they always played on a really ornate set." The ivory in his hands was illegal to own by most. However, given the Inu No Taisho's line, it was probably obtained far before poachers had become an issue amongst humans. "Rather odd, isn't it? To elope but play a game in an old wellhouse hours before? Sango does not believe Kagome planned to be absconded with."

"That one should be muzzled," Kouga spat. He scratched the long cut on his arm. Sango, Kagome's friend, had arrived at the shrine that morning after it was discovered both Kagome and Sesshomaru were missing. The demented woman had assaulted him on the assumption that he had something to do with Kagome's kidnapping.

Though she was a woman, Kouga allowed, Sango packed a mean right hook. The fact that said fist had been encased in metal from knuckle rings had not helped.

Miroku rose from his crouch to regard the First Son coolly. "I would be more careful in how you refer to the daughter of the current Head of the Slayers. Raigon is a tough man, even by Youkai standards."

"I am not impressed. Seems the slayers need a new leader. He elected you to this position and you couldn't even keep up with one kit."

Miroku's lips thinned. Shippo had gone missing alongside Kagome. He had a feeling he was with the pair. He had only known the kit for a handful of days, but the runt could challenge the patience of Buddha himself. The Hunter monk was grateful that Sesshomaru would not hurt Shippo. The same damned pride which had become legendary amongst Youkai and humans alike would prevent Sesshomaru from engaging in violence with someone not on his level.

It still irked Miroku fiercely that he had failed in his duty to the young Youkai. He had been prepared to protect the kit from attack. Not to keep him penned like an animal from escaping!

"Are you still bothering Miroku?" The snide question came from the open door to the wellhouse.

Both males turned to spot Sango leaning against the frame. She continued, "Father said he wants a report, Miroku. As for you, Kouga, your mother is on the phone. She is most displeased. Apparently your rabid affections and harassment toward Kagome all these years were not known to her." Sango grinned wickedly. "It pleased me greatly to offer my opinions on your behavior. She was incredibly happy to share that Kagome will no longer be bothered. A matter of an arranged mating will handle that quite nicely. Ayame of the Northern Tribe, I believe she said, will be sent for and will arrive within days. Your mother will confirm your return home, now, if you please."

Miroku was amused to observe Kouga's entire demeanor shift from arrogant swagger to petulant youngling. His shoulders and tail drooped simultaneously.

"Damn interfering females!" Kouga grouched. He glared at the female and prepared to walk toward her, but a hard cough from Miroku stopped the inflamed words threatening to spill out. Kouga turned his burning anger on Miroku. "Do your job, Monk. Find them. I will hold my mother off. She can't do this to me! Ayame? That bitch has eyes on everything I do. I'll never have a moment's peace with her watching my every move. Kagome had better be brought back before the fucking dog ruins her!"

Kouga raced from the room, ruffling Sango's hair with his passing. She narrowed eyes on the Monk. She scoffed, "Youkai are as archaic as my father. 'Ruined?' If Kagome managed to get 'ruined' good for her. You men certainly have no problem enjoying ruined women, do you?"

Wisely, Miroku held his hands up. "Peace! Do not lump me in with those like him. You know I am all for female empowerment. Nothing I like better than a woman who knows how to take control," he flirted with a wide grin.

"Don't try your sweet talk with me," Sango warned mulishly. She backed up into the sunlight and Miroku followed. "I am not in the mood for another round of your lying words."

"I do not lie," Miroku objected. "I simply choose not to disclose the full truth if it will serve the greater good."

Sango crossed her arms over her chest and declared, "Same damn thing, Miroku, and you know it! It is because of you my father found out I was training for the Hunter program! You saw through my disguise, but I thought you promised not to tell!"

Eyes narrowed, the monk drawled, "I do not regret that. So, if you are seeking an apology, you will be sorely disappointed. I made no such promise. You told me not to tell him and assumed I would follow your order. It is dangerous, Sango. Much too dangerous for a sweet, beautiful woman such as yourself."

"I'll give you sweet," Sango threatened. "What about 'female empowerment?'" she threw back in his face. Before he could reply, she huffed, crossing her arms over her chest. "Forget it, Monk. I trusted you. You showed me, you. I needed that. So, I will just say thank you. I learned my lesson and I learned it well."

Souta ran into the sparring area outside the wellhouse. The boy huffed from the exertion. "Mama said she found a note! It must have fallen into the cracks behind the counter. She was cleaning the fridge, like she always does when she is stressed, and found it beneath the vents."

Sango and Miroku shared a blank look then both took off at a full run for the shrine house.

Kagome's mother was pacing in front of the stove when the pair rushed into the kitchen. "Here," she said, thoughtfully, and handed the note to Sango.

Miroku read over Sango's shoulder. She tried to ignore the warmth radiating through the back of her thick jacket from where he leaned against her to focus on Kagome's handwriting.

Sorry to everyone! We just had to run away for a while. You all know this whole courting thing was not what I wanted. Sesshomaru and I are fine. We are taking a short vacation from all the responsibilities we find ourselves tossed under. Don't go assuming he kidnapped me or anything! He told me not to tell anyone I was leaving, but I know how you guys all think, especially Sango! Make sure to let her know I went willingly, Mama! She will track me better than anyone thinks she can. I am safe, just like Jinengi's flowers! -Love Kagome

"Jinengi's flowers?" Miroku repeated. He stepped around Sango to gently tug the letter from her limp fingers.

Kagome's mother shrugged. "I don't know," she replied. "But at least we know she is safe."

Sango's gaze suddenly caught Miroku's. She gave a short nod of her head and walked outside without a word. Miroku squeezed Ms. Higurashi's shoulder and said, "She is safe. We still need to find her. She may not know Shippo is with them. When they do, they need to bring him home. You have my number. Call if you find or hear anything else."

He murmured a farewell then followed Sango's path across the shrine grounds. He found her beneath a tall tree that had many prayer slips tied to its rough bark. "What is it?" he asked when she held her silence for longer than the space of a minute.

"Jinengi was our friend in elementary school," she replied, voice low. "He loved his little garden and was a peaceful sort. But he was a hanyou that suffered from some deformities. He was teased a lot, though Kagome and I tried to protect him. Kouga, especially, delighted in being mean to him. He followed Jinengi home one day. The bully was going to stomp all of Jinengi's flowers. That was the only time I ever heard of Jinengi losing his temper. Kouga was out of school for a week to heal."

Miroku rubbed his chin in thought. "So, Kagome saying she is safe like those flowers means … either she is protected or that she is in danger of being hurt?"

"Both," Sango decreed. "She is safe right now, but that someone hunts her means we need to intervene. I am coming with you, Miroku. She is right. You and my father may think I am too weak to be useful, but I know Kagome. Through all her stories, I also know more about Sesshomaru than any of you do. We need to find them before whatever is threatening her finds them. She would not have thrown that in her note if she was fully satisfied Sesshomaru could keep her safe on his own."

Miroku scowled. Her resolve did not waver in the face of his disapproval. He hated it but she was right. "I am the Hunter," he declared, voice firm as iron. "You will obey me if I say to stay back," he ordered, "or I will call your father and have you picked up. You know I will lose my standing. Raigon will also probably rip off my head for allowing his daughter on the hunt. I do not care. You put yourself in danger and I will sacrifice it all to make sure you make it home."

Taken aback by his vehemence, Sango nonetheless straightened her shoulders. "I hear you, Miroku," she said. Though, she added silently when he sighed and gestured for her to follow him to the gravel drive and his suv, you aren't the only one who can promise without promising.

"Did you hear that?" Kagome twisted in the seat to look over her shoulder at the pile of bags that had been unceremoniously tossed into the back seat.

"This one believes you have asked that four times. How many more instances do you plan to annoy this one's ears with your badgering nonsense?"

She huffed. Then promptly ignored his irritated glare by sliding over the arm rest into the back seat.

"Do not cause undue interest in our vehicle, Higurashi. If you are going to be in the back, fasten the belt," he ordered. His gimlet gaze caught hers in the rear-view mirror.

She rolled her eyes and began sorting through the bags. "Just drive, Great One, and I will be fine. Keep looking back here and you will be the one causing 'undue interest.' I like life, thank you very much."

She was positive there had been a noise back here. It had almost reminded her of-

Kagome's brain silenced that thought when she lifted the night bag she had thrown in the car. An unruly mop of crimson hair came into view. The kit attached to the hair hunkered down and turned wide, beseeching eyes on her.

"What the hell?" she burst out.

Shippo quickly pleaded, "I just wanted to be with you guys! Kouga is a real meanie. Souta won't let me play with his stuff and Miroku just wants to flirt with the shrine visitors."

"Kit," Sesshomaru growled, low and mean, from the front. "You have infringed upon this one's territory. You know the consequences for such."

Kagome's head cocked to the side. She absently stroked Shippo's hair away from his face before asking, "Territory? You mean your car?" She rolled her eyes when Sesshomaru glared at her through the mirror. "Kami, Sesshomaru. You cannot be that possessive. A car is not land. It will be a rusted hunk of metal in a handful of decades."

Shippo gulped. "He is inuyoukai," he whispered frantically. "Before he died, my father taught me all about them. He said to never let them come into our lands for soon they would take over. They can't help it. If it is theirs no one else is supposed to touch it. Unless they want to-"

"Kit," Sesshomaru interrupted, "keep your observations from the Miko's ears. She already believes herself an expert on this one's clan."

Shippo blew the bangs out of his eyes. He grabbed Kagome's hand. "Please let me stay with you! I promise I won't be in the way."

Kagome shook her head. "You know we cannot do that, Shippo. People will be worried about you. It isn't safe for you to be with us."

"Because of Naraku?" Shippo asked innocently.

Both Kagome and Sesshomaru started. The wheel jerked in Sesshomaru's hands. He snarled, "Where did you hear that odious name?"

Shippo shrugged. "Some guys were talking about him while I was waiting outside the Council halls to be told about the courting vouchers. They said you would make things easy for Naraku seeing as how you were too proud to do what was necessary."

Kagome's face heated. Yeah. What the Council had wanted was why she was on the run. "Did they say anything else?" she managed to ask.

"Well," Shippo volunteered with a finger pinching the lobe of his ear, "This tall Youkai lady told them to shut up and that Naraku would never allow Sesshomaru to mate with Kagome anyway because he needs her pure."

"Who?" Sesshomaru sharply questioned, eyes still on the road.

"How am I supposed to know that? I'm just a kit. I don't go around any society Youkai yet." Then, a sly smile slid over Shippo's face. "I could recognize her. If I saw her again. If I was with you."

Kagome scowled. "'Pure?' Seriously? Mikos have families, you know. Not being 'pure' doesn't make them less powerful."

"While this one finds it less-than-interesting that of all the kit's words that is the one you focus on, allow this one to correct another of your misconceptions. 'Pure' in Youkai terms means unmated. Unmarked." He directed his next words to the kit. "You saw her? Describe her to this one."

Shippo's lips tightened. He crossed his arms over his chest.

"Kit," Sesshomaru growled, eyes glowing dangerously. "Do not attempt manipulation of this one!"

Kagome sighed. Her temples throbbed. "Kami, Sesshomaru, could you tone it down just a bit? You know your power fluctuations give me headaches. I think you do that on purpose. Shippo, we need to know who the female is. If we hang out with you for the day before dropping you off somewhere safe will you tell us? This is not fun and games time. We are in serious trouble. I am in serious trouble. And Naraku is a major bad guy."

Shippo sighed and dropped his arms. "Okay, fine. But I get to choose what we do!"

"Remember we are hiding out, so nothing that will get us caught," Kagome reminded him. She ignored the animosity directed at both her and the kit from the front seat. Sesshomaru could handle a day of indignity if it got them what they needed to know.