Castle Courtyard

Kaname's body froze and soon became limp as she collapsed into the demon's arms. Her eyes lingered on the smiling beast in front of her before her eyelids shut and darkness descended onto her. The demon pretending to be Shunswei cackled silently, quickly turning around to check if anyone had heard his exchange with the girl. Dropping her to the ground, he was pleased to see no one in sight, the demon slowly morphed back to his human form, smoothing his face a little before turning his back from the unconscious girl lying on the ground. Everything had turned out as he had planned, the girl had fallen into the deep slumber and soon Naraku would be here to pick her up.

"Guards, come here at once," the pretend Shunswei yelled, his voice hoarse, trying to keep to character. Shunswei coughed a bit brushing at his kimono, giving the girl one last glance. I better keep her hidden for a safe pickup, he thought to himself, as he heard the thumping footsetps of the approaching guards.

"My lord, what is it that you call upon us! Are you hurt? " The group of guards cast sideways glance at the unconscious girl on the floor, a confused look crossing their expressions. Shunswei scoffed slapped one of the guards in the face, the smack echoing repeatedly into the silent night.

"You call yourselves guards," he yelled, feigning anger as the fallen man looked up in fear and surprise. "This girl decided to attack me, I believe she might be some sort of demon or something, send her to the dungeons now!" He pointed at Kaname as if she were just a piece of trash. Grave looks crossed the guards' expressions, as one of them went forward to pick her up.

"What else shall we do my lord? She came with a set of companions if I recall?" Shunswei remembered then, the friends that the girl came with. He frowned at the guard nodding briefly at the girl's body.

"After you've locked her up, kill them all, I don't need them causing me trouble, do the same for that damn mercenary." Shunswei thought of the mercenary, his stomach churning with fear. The previous master had ordered the man nicknamed among the demons as the Master of Shadows, to annilate his enemies. The demon exhaled slowly, resisting the urge to eat everyone of these human in his sight. It took a lot to agree to work with the demon Naraku, only for the promise of a shard of the Shikon Jewel.

"My lord, the mercenary he requests your presence, I did not know what to say," came a guard from behind, bowing his head. The demon smiled gleefully, well now was better than never.

Guest Rooms

Inuyasha awoke suddenly when he noticed the strange smell near the room. I can smell it, a demon and what is this? This is Kaname;s smell?!

"Dammit!" Inuyasha cursed as he sheathed and drew the Tessaiga again only for its weight to drag the blade back down to the ground. His eyes darted towards Kanam'e spot and found it empty, her scent lingering in the blankets next to Kagome.

"Inuyasha can you sense it, this demonic aura." Inuyasha didn't turn to know that Miroku had awoken as well. Miroku's eyes narrowed at Kaname's spot as he also went to grab his staff.

"Yeah, I can also smell Kaname near by as well, this doesn't sound good." Inuyasha got to his feet, opening the door to see if anyone was outside. Suddenly, he heard Kagome give a huge gasp from behind him. Immdiately, Inuyasha wentto stare at her, as sweat started to drip down her shocked face.

"What is it Kagome," he asked a worried look crossing his features. She just stared at Inuyasha her mouth gaping open as her eyes filled with a mixture of shock and fear.

"What is it Kagome," Sango whispered, awakening from sleep herself. Kagome shuddered at this this snapped her head up staring at Inuyasha's concerned face. Indeed he knew that look from anywhere.

"I can sense a shard from the Shikon jewel approaching and its coming really fast from far away!" Both Inuyasha and Miroku's bodies tensed at this and before anyone could say another word, Inuyasha was sprinting out into the hall.

"Wait Inuyasha, hold on a sec," Miroku said rushing out of the room with Inuyasha, "Where's Kaname! We need to find her, especially since Naraku has stooped high and low to capture her."

"Wait for us you guys," Sango called from behind them, but they ignored her, as the demonic aura seemed to be getting stronger as they ran down the hall.

"Inuyasha, hold on," Kagome yelled from behind, but her voice died when they disappeared around the corner. "This can't be good, what on earth is going on," she said grasping her hands together in a death-like gripping, her body shaking

slightly.

Castle Halls

"I can smell Kaname, she is below us, I think in a basement of some kind," Inuyasha scowled sniffing the air some more.

"What do we do about this demonic aura, do you smell any sign of Naraku."

"Don't you think I would have mentioned that by now if I did, but there is something about this house that doesn't feel right," Inuyasha answered. From the corner of his eye he spotted two guards approaching him and Miroku, their weapons raised. "Miroku, your left!" Inuyasha swiftly blocked the stab attempt, punching his attacker in the face without a sweat. The two guards crumpled to the floor, moaning in pain. Inuyasha crouched down, grabbing one of the guards by the collar, and smacking him on the head.

"What is it that you attack us for, we have been greeted by your master's hospitality," Miroku asked pinning the other guard to the floor with his staff, anger lining his face.

"Ack," the guard yelled when Inuyasha punched him in the face, "Alright, alright, our lord commanded us to kill you since your companion attacked our lord, foolish woman." Both Inuyasha and Miroku's eyes widened in shock, Inuyasha smacked his fist at the wall in frustration.

"That's impossible, why would Kaname attack the village head in the dead of night," Miroku said throwing the unconscious guard on the ground. Inuyasha didn't respond, instead he shook the guard even more, pushing down the urge to punch the daylights out of him.

"Where's Kaname now? What did you do to her?" There was a dangerous tone in Inuyasha's voice, making the guard's face go pale in response. He flinched, raising his arms as if to block an incoming blow.

"We were told to put her in the dungeons instead of killing her, she was unconscious so we all had to carry her there, that's all I know please don't hurt me," the guard squealed, his body trembling with fear. Both Miroku and Inuyasha stopped breathing staring back at one another. Coming here wasn't a coincidence, Miroku thought to himself. It was to get at Kaname! Damn that Naraku, Inuyasha thought to himself dropping the guard with a thud, before sprinting across the hall towards Kaname's scent.

"Wait Inuyasha," Miroku called from behind him, falling back a bit, "Don't rush in so quickly, we must find the demon and slay it before we get Kaname, perhaps he knows something."

"That demon is just a distraction for us so Naraku can probably get at Kaname, you heard Kagome those jewels are coming here fast and he's the only person we know with that many jewels in his possession." Inuyasha said no more as he rushed past the gawking servants in the hallways.