Kagome walked into her classroom and sat down, humming to herself as she got her pencil out. Life was so good, and she thanked God that He brought her love back to her. Somehow, she knew there had to have been a stupid grin on her face, but she didn't care if anyone looked at her strangely.

Staring off into the distance, thinking about her love, someone touched her shoulder and startled her.

"Hey Kagome! You're looking very lovely today."

"Koga, I didn't see you there. Are you ready for the test?"

He took the hand on her shoulder, and moved it to around her neck.

"As I'll ever be…say, how about you and me grab something to eat after class."

"No thank you."

"Why not?"

Pulling her hair over to the side, she exposed her neck and showed him the mark that claimed her as InuYasha's.

"My boyfriend came back and we're courting now, so there is no chance of us being together. Please, move on from me and find someone else; I'm sure there's a girl out there that would love to be with you, if you gave her the chance."

He was shocked, and even appeared to be a little hurt, before his expression turned to anger. Kagome was thankful for the professor telling everyone to take their seats as Koga moved further down the row. The test was given out and Kagome focused on nothing but the questions, wanting to impress InuYasha when she aced the test.

Test done and turned in, Kagome walked out and took a deep breath in as she embraced the fresh air.

"Freedom!"

Sango waved and ran over to her, "so, how do you think you did?"

"Well, you know I strive for perfection, but there were a few problems I just wasn't sure about."

Just then, someone side-swiped her shoulder and whispered, "this isn't over yet."

Turning around, she looked everywhere, but no one seemed to be paying them any attention…then who was that?

"Kagome? Are you alright?"

Giving Sango her attention again, she smiled and waved it off, "yeah, I'm fine! Just can't wait to get back to my Inu."

"Yeah, I think I'm actually missing the lech too."

Kagome giggled, "come on, Sango! You aren't fooling anyone…you're in love with Miroku."

Stopping in her steps, Sango smiled as she turned to her friend, "yeah, I guess I am."

Smiling back, Kagome walked off with her friend and went to the Takahashi's home to wait for their men.

InuYasha rang the doorbell and waited with Miroku. It didn't take long for a maid to come to the door.

"The mistress will see you in the study. Follow me."

Kikyo's place was elaborate like Naraku's was, so he had no doubt Naraku had nothing to do with his interior decorating. The woman was cold and unfeeling, just like her décor.

Being led to the large room, InuYasha and Miroku saw the statuesque woman leaning against her desk and regarding them with disinterest.

"What would the killer, of my late husband, want with me?"

Taking a deep breath, InuYasha bowed respectfully, "I've come to ask your forgiveness for the pain I've caused you."

Crossing her arms, she sneered, "it's a little late for that, don't you think?"

"Then, how can I make it up to you? I wish to make amends."

Just then, an evil grin twisted her lips, "the only way to make it up to me…is to be mine."

"I'm sorry Kikyo, but that won't happen. I'm courting someone and we're in love, so perhaps you can choose something else."

"Fine, if you won't be mine by choice, then I'll force you into it."

Suddenly, the floor under him opened up into a cage, trapping him.

"What the hell, Kikyo! Let me out right now!"

Striding over to him, she smiled, "no, I don't think I will."

InuYasha looked over where Miroku was, but he had disappeared.

"What did you do with Miroku?!"

"Calm down, I just gave him the express way outside, no harm came to him. Now, a courting lasts about one month, so you're all mine after that, but I could always send out a hitman for dear, sweet, innocent Kagome."

"Don't you dare! Wait! How did you know her name?!"

She cackled, "I found the video footage of Naraku torturing her, so I also saw you two in each other's arms afterward. Don't worry though, I saved the video just for you."

Doing his best to school his face into a cold expression, he glared.

"You were the one that hired the demon worm charmer, aren't you?"

"Yes."

"You put all those men up to hurting her?"

"Yes. I figured if she was damaged goods by the time you came back, then you wouldn't want her, or she would be too messed up to want you…well, or any man, to touch her ever again."

"If your sorry ex didn't break her, then no one can. She's strong."

Running her hands over the bars, she grinned, "I wonder how strong she could be against Goshinki."

"That purple haired, red-eyed, freak?! He's telepathic and psychotic!"

"Yes, the perfect combination to create your little Kagome's worst nightmares. After all, he'll be able to read her thoughts and know just what to do, even if it means starting where my husband left off."

Jerking on the bars, he knew they were enchanted and wouldn't break.

"When I get out of this, I'm going to kill you slowly."

Walking over to her desk, she pressed a secret button, and the caged disappeared into the floor, and into a stone room with only a TV to keep him company, but the footage playing over and over again had the means to break him inside as he watched his Kagome cry hysterically, slowly taking her clothes off.

Teared flowed down his face as he watched her dance for him and heard his sick voice over the intercom. This is what she went through; this is what her nightmare was.

He watched her try fruitlessly to cut through the collar before Naraku fed her the food that knocked her out. He watched Naraku string her up on that strange torture device, touching her and rubbing her while she was knocked out.

Growling low in his throat, he felt his demon blood rising to the surface as Naraku trailed his filthy hands over her hips, waist, breasts, and it made him sick.

However, nothing compared to when she woke up and the bastard started his beatings.

He closed his eyes as Kagome's screams echoed in the room.

"Kagome, I had no idea. How could you have forgiven me for not being there?"

Kagome walked with Sango, but couldn't shake the feeling like something was wrong.

"Hey, Sango, can you call Miroku and find out where they went?"

"Sure."

Calling her boyfriend, she was surprised to hear the voicemail.

"That's strange, Miroku always answers my calls."

Something definitely wasn't right. Kagome got her phone out, thankful that InuYasha put his new number in there, and tried calling him, but his went straight to voicemail too. It was that moment, she received a call from Rin.

"Hey, cuz, what's up?"

"Kagome! You and Sango need to get here now! Please, don't ask questions, just hurry up!"

Rin hung up, and Kagome ran as fast as she could to the Takahashi's, the place she now called home. Pushing the double doors open, Kagome and Sango, who caught up, raced in to see everyone in the great room with a shaking Miroku on the couch, his expression was of pure fear.

Rushing over, Sango knelt by him, "Miroku, what happened?! Are you okay?!"

"Sango?"

He turned to her and wrapped his arms around her, so sure that nothing felt as incredible as the woman he cradled.

"Sango, I was so sure I would never see you again."

"I'm here, baby, I'm here."

Stepping up, Kagome looked frantically around, "where's InuYasha?"

Turning to face her, Miroku lowered his eyes, "we went to go see Kikyo, the last one on his list, and she captured him while sending me to my death. She wants him as reconciliation for the pain he caused."

Kagome hung her head, "are you sure he's not going to be hurt?"

"Why do you ask?"

"Because I can feel his agony…he's being tortured, I just know it!"

Without thinking, Kagome ran back out the front door, and everyone followed after her. Miroku sped up to her, "wait Kagome! There is a wind sorceress there, the same one that almost killed me! I escaped, but she will kill you if you dare go there!"

Halting, she turned angry eyes to him, "I don't care! He's my intended, my heart, and I'll be damned if some vindictive whore is going to steal him from me! We have to save him!"

Looking into her blue eyes, he knew nothing was going to change her mind, "fine, but let's regroup and think of a plan. She won't be able to do anything until your month is up."

"What are you talking about?"

"In one month, your courting with InuYasha will be severed and then she can have him. So, we have less than a month to figure out how to break him out."

Turning her face to the road, she clasped her hands over her heart.

"Oh, InuYasha, we were so close to our happily ever after. Don't worry, my love, I will save you."

He tried his best to think of happy times with Kagome, but that damned video just kept playing and all he could do was fold his ears over and squeeze his eyes shut.

'Don't worry, my love, I will save you.'

Lifting his head, he wondered if that was a hallucination, but it was so clear.

"Kagome?"

Hearing her voice was all the motivation he needed to stay strong and not let the darkness creep into his heart. He had no doubt Kikyo's plan was to break him, but how did she plan to make him mate with her?

A sudden terrifying thought occurred to him. What better way than to threaten to kill Kagome if he didn't do it? That's it! She was going to use his love for Kagome as leverage to force him into courting her!

"That crazy bitch will not get her way."

Looking around, he was not going to give up on finding a way to escape.

'You, stupid half-breed! We finally get to be with our intended and you find a way to f*** it up!'

Sometimes he wished his demon side would shut up. Wait, maybe he could get them out of this!

"Demon, if I let you take over, can you get out of this cage?"

'Of course! I'm not a weak human or mutt like you.'

"Whatever, just hurry up and get us out of here, otherwise Kikyo will hurt Kagome and we won't be able to stop it."

'I'll rip her to shreds before she gets the chance.'

Normally, InuYasha would retort when his demon side got a little too crazy, but protecting Kagome meant by any means necessary.

"Do what you must, you have my permission."

Closing his eyes and tilting his head down, his demon aura radiated like heat from his skin and slowly he lifted his head, an evil grin and two bright red eyes staring out at the stone walls.

Cracking his neck, he lifted his elongated claws, "time to have some fun."