Chapter three- Winds of life

"I wonder what Sesshoumaru could want with the baby?" Sango wondered as she walked slightly behind Miroku. They'd been tracking the dog demon ever since Inuyasha's disappointment had changed to eagerness. Since the mysterious child was taken everyone including Kagome spoke as little to Inuyasha as they could. As the sun set on each day Kagome's fever had progressively gotten worse, the heat bubbling up in her like acid, sometimes putting her in so much pain that Inuyasha even insisted to stop.

On the third day since the intense tracking had begun, Shippou had collected enough courage to do what he knew was on everyone else's mind. "Inuyasha, who is that child and why is she so important to you and Sesshoumaru? You never go after children just to help them, so what's in it for you?" After getting that off his chest Shippou braced himself for a beating but to his surprise, it never came.

Inuyasha's eyes shone with memories of the past as he tried to figure out if the kid had any ties, leaving the Kitsune's questions unanswered. Looking toward the open ocean, he watched another day come and go with no signs of the little creature, his back to the gang as they gawked at him with wonder and fear. As he started to turn around, Kagome got to her feet and bolted towards him. When she had caught up with him, she gave a glance at Sango for reassurance and strength. With an approving nod from Sango, Kagome trailed wordlessly behind Inuyasha, towards the edge of the nearby river that led to the mouth of the ocean until the trees gave no secrets of their location.

Surrounded by the trickling of clear, fresh, mountain water and the greening leaves that wrinkled as the winds gently pushed past them. Looking deeper into the woods, Kagome could see that the trees were beginning to bear fruit. She looked around, trying to avoid the tension between her and Inuyasha, and leaned back and rested her body on a tree.

"I do know the child. Her name is Hinoko. I just don't remember anything about her I'm amazed I even know her name." babbled Inuyasha as he broke through the stillness, walking upstream towards one of the minor mountains, as he led her into a sad excuse for a forest where the rest of the group could see and hear nothing.

"I'm sorry," was all Kagome could muster. Shocked and tense she silently cursed herself. Then, with a sudden flash of light, the sun dropped behind the tallest mountain that could be seen in her view.

"Kagome," He said as he came to a stop catching her off guard as she ran into him. "It's about to get extremely dangerous around here. the power the Hinoko holds is greater then anything we have ever faced before. I ask you to go home so that you can get better and stay safe. This is no place for you." Inuyasha explained as he steadied Kagome from falling.

"No, if it's going to get dangerous the best place for me to be is here, helping you, Inuyasha. we fight better together." Kagome stated as she looked dead into his eyes forcing a smile.

In a quick moment she found herself surrounded in Inuyasha's arms. "I just don't know what to do…" whispered Inuyasha, feeling the tension leave Kagome's body, tightening his grip until she hesitantly returned the embrace.

"What's wrong with him? I feel so helpless, what can I do to help him more than I already am?" Kagome thought as she attempted to easily remove Inuyasha's embrace, only to make his grip tighter. Looking up into his marigold eyes, lost in trails of confusion and feeling that she had never noticed before. Slowly shaking her head she wondered "what's wrong with ME." As he gradually moved his hand under her chin, shock hit her for she knew what was to come next, her face turning vibrant red. Ignoring his thoughts against it he pressed his lips lightly to hers. Feeling her tremble, he pushed her away, scared that he had gone too far.

" I'm sorry," he murmured as he turned around, trying to ignore her hurt covered face, when out of no where a cold familiar feeling pricked at his neck and back as he recalled the presence of Kikyou. Kagome could see Inuyasha's body was tense, turning toward his line of gaze. "Did Kikyou see that?" Inuyasha questioned as he heard Kagome's voice. "What?" he asked as he returned his attention to Kagome. "Are you alright?" She asked as she backed up towards the river gazing into his eyes with concern.

With a breeze of cold, a shinidammerchuu flew straight for her pushing her into the water. The snake's eyes filled with anger and hate. As she was tested with the cold strength of the white, she looked at the blank look on Inuyasha's face as he stared at the pale cold Kikyou, Kagome drifting away by the water as it pulled her closer and closer to the mouth of the ocean.

Kikyou turned around, staring back into the woods she came from, saying nothing then walking away just as she had come.

Snapping out of the look of pain and hurt, Inuyasha turned toward where Kagome had been pushed. "Kagome, KAGOME!" Inuyasha cried as he started to track her. He tried to track through the water but to no avail.

He had been searching for hours when he decided to get help from the others. When he returned to the camp, wondrous stares greeted him, wanting an explanation. As he started to explain a cloud formed out of no where creating a thundering clash when a as scream hit the air. Louder then ever before, Inuyasha took off at a full run, with Kilala at his back, both tracking the young infant, the air turns like cold fire burning in the clouds stirring up the sky the a tornado. The sky lights up like cracks in a burning flame, thunder claps as the fire, like clouds, let down rain.

A well-known scent hit the air as Inuyasha bounds over the river. "Hinoko." He whispered as he saw the baby screaming at the top of her young lungs, Kagome near her feet. As he approached the still body, shallow tears started to form in his eyes. Hinoko looked at him, tears rolling down her own checks as her hands holding the blue lights that spun around Kagome's body, pumping her chest giving her the chance for life. When Hinoko stopped Kagome's eyes started to flutter open.

"Inuyasha" Kagome mumbled as she gagged on the remaining water left in her lungs.

"I-nu-yasha" squeaked a child's voice as Hinoko started to yawn and crawl towards to Half-demon.

"Hinoko," Inuyasha whispered as he got down on his knees to pick up the exhausted child.

"Inuyasha, put down that child!" Screamed Sesshoumaru as he threw a green whip towards him. It hit him straight in the chest, blowing him backwards, then dashing for Hinoko. Kagome got to her feet and grabbed Hinoko by the arm pulling the child closer to herself. Sesshoumaru grabbed the child by the other hand, drawing Kagome up close then striking her to the ground making Hinoko terrified. She let out another scream twisting the ground and trees into the air. Sesshoumaru tightened his grip and covered her mouth blocking the young voice from traveling. Looking down at Kagome who now had his feet. Sesshoumaru picked her up and carried her like a foot ball.

"KAGOME!" the whole gang screamed.