Well hopefully I'll be able to update as soon next time too. I do have ideas, but don't actually have the time. My head's a warfield! Lots of things to do, and I've been sick... Bugger!

CHAPTER 6 – I'm going after her!

Inuyasha didn't know what to think of it. He was inside the small house, staring at her backpack. 'Didn't she have this thing with her when she left? What's it doing here?' He cocked his head to the side and narrowed his eyes. The look upon his face resembled Sesshoumaru's more than he would care to admit it. However, this was the last thing going through his mind at the time.

Unsettled voices coming from outside told him something was wrong, and he rushed into the sunlight to see Sango, Miroku and Shippo having a vibrant conversation.

"You can't come, Shippo! There's no knowing what that devil might be planning this time! It's too dangerous!' the woman said, firmly.

"Listen to Sango, Shippo! You know she's right…" the monk added, just as Inuyasha busted out the door, with a madman's appearance upon his face.

"What's happening here? Come where?" he shouted, and the small kitsune froze, tears still lingering inside his bright eyes. The taijia and the monk both remained silent.

"Kagome…" Shippo began, and Inuyasha suddenly lifted him into the air. He was sobbing, and it irritated the hanyou.

"What's with Kagome, you brat? WHAT?" He was going mad with worry, and the little fox was barely able to speak the words. Sango approached Inuyasha and gently took Shippo out of his grasp, sheltering him like she would an infant.

"She was taken… by Naraku." she said slowly, almost afraid of the hanyou's reaction. Inuyasha's face contorted into a mask of fury and hatred, but his voice was so calm that it made Miroku panic when he said:

"Naraku?" he said rapidly, almost not believing his ears. 'How can that be? Has the bastard dared show his face again?' He sniffed the air and his anger seemed to have grown when the golden eyes stopped on Sango.

"Where's my idiot brother? He's been here, I can sense it. Does he have anything to do with this?" his voice was still calm, though, the kind of calm that hides tension and barely contained rage. His every muscle seemed tensed. Sango took a second before answering, shooting Miroku a fugitive glimpse before she said the words.

"Sesshoumaru's… gone after her. He was just here and told us that 'he needs no assistance'. So, we were thinking… " she couldn't finish her sentence, as Inuyasha screamed:

"That bastard's got no business going after my Kagome! How could he find her, anyway?" Sango took a step towards him, placing Shippo onto the ground, and grabbing Inuyasha's left shoulder. He threw a mean look at her… or through her, more likely.

"We'll go find her, Inuyasha. Sesshoumaru said…" she began, but Inuyasha cut her phrase once again.

"How can he be so sure that Kagome's been taken by Naraku? I never sensed the damn scum!"

"Well, neither did he." Sango responded, calmly. "It's just that he saw Kagura around yesterday and…" the woman stopped, uncertain of the outcome if she were to tell Inuyasha about the drops of blood. But he had to know the entire story.

"… and there were a few drops of blood near the well. So, she's been definitely taken against her will. It's her blood, Sesshoumaru said." Inuyasha sighed, and closed his gold eyes for a second, just as long as it took for him to compose a determined figure, and make a decision. 'He knows how Kagome's blood smells like?' he wondered, for a second.

"I think I can trace Kagome if I move fast enough, he said, taking a long gaze at the group in front of him. But I can't do that with humans around. You have to remain here." He raised his face into the air, catching the breeze, and still aware of Kagome's scent. 'Thank God for those perfumed ointments she always uses!' There was really nothing like that smell around there.

The two humans did not argue, as they knew that he was right, and just watched as his face turned serious and his features locked into a mature appearance. He seemed so responsible, all of sudden! They knew he'll do everything within his power to bring Kagome back unharmed. And… there was Sesshoumaru, too. That was truly puzzling to the monk and the woman standing beside him.

"I'm off. You take care, now." was all he said, as he departed, and rapidly disappeared into the forest. Shippo was left sobbing on the ground, and Sango's hand instinctively searched Miroku's, clutching onto it.

"Take care, Inuyasha." She responded, long after his red haori was out of her sight, then turned to the monk and embraced him tightly.

"They'll be allright, Sango. You'll see." He said, and his eyes closed tight for a few seconds. The woman nodded into his clothing, and forced herself to be convinced of that truth. 'They'll be allright… They'll be allright… They'll have to be!' she thought, as she sunk into Miroku's arms.

Inuyasha fought to keep Kagome's scent within the reach of his senses. It had been hours since he had left the house, and the sun was almost setting now. He was rushing towards parts unknown, mad with anger and guilt. 'How could I have been so careless? Why didn't I sense the bastard? If he hurts my Kagome I'll rip him apart limb by limb!'

His fury almost brought out the demon blood rushing through his veins, but Inuyasha knew there would be no point in making himself that vulnerable. He was well aware of the fact that his reasoning (the small amount of it that he possessed, as Kagome had bluntly put it on several occasions) went flying away while he was in his demon form.

So he tried to restrain the rage streaming within him and focused on the girl's scent. The curious thing was, the presence of another strong youkai was making itself known to him. Inuyasha stopped his run and searched his surroundings, attentive to every sound and sign of movement. He closed his eyes and imagined the forest, a lively Mother protecting and nurturing all its offspring, the trees hiding the Earth's story for centuries, the birds chirping in all the languages humans and youkai would never understand…

'Sesshoumaru…' he finally figured out, and moved towards the stream of power that he felt his brother let out. 'Why's he flaring his aura like that? It's so unlike him…' All things considered, it was odd enough that Sesshoumaru would go out of his way to search for Kagome, but this open display of power was straight on absurd, when you were to think of his usual cool temper and his everlasting mask of composure.

"I see you've felt it too…" Sesshoumaru said, calmly, as Inuyasha exited the forest, only to find himself looking at a high peak not far off and a house that was barely in sight. The mountain was quiet under the setting sun, and Inuyasha suddenly understood what his brother meant. Kagome's scent came from that direction more strong than it had been all day. She was on that mountain. The hanyou approached the taiyoukai and stood still by his side, both gazing at the massive mountain.

"I believe she rests inside that house." was all Sesshoumaru said, in his usual calm manner. Inuyasha, however, felt spikes of energy sprouting from the elder demon, and he couldn't help but wonder why ever-so-cold-Sesshoumaru was that furious. He snuck a peak towards him, but Sesshoumaru didn't move. Inuyasha took a step towards the mountain, and felt his brother's claws on his shoulder.

"Where are you going?" he heard the taiyoukai ask, and without turning to face him, he gave a simple answer.

"I'm going after her!" Sesshoumaru didn't release his shoulder, though.

"She's been taken by Naraku, but he hid not hide her. Moreover, she was not even far off. He hid his stench, but did not bother to cloak hers. Do you not find this curious?" It had been maybe the longest speech that Inuyasha had heard from his brother. But he was right. It was curious.

Inuyasha turned to Sesshoumaru and eyed him mindfully.

"What do you propose, then? I suppose you won't admit to any of my suggestions!" he was angry, but some of Kagome wise judgment had probably rubbed off, and he was now thinking that two swords against the scum Naraku were undeniably better than one. So he swallowed his pride and closed his mouth while Sesshoumaru thought it out.

"It would probably be better it we awaited dawn to engage in a battle." The youkai's voice sounded clearly into the now shadowy surroundings. Then, he turned around and entered the forest. Inuyasha took a long look into the direction of the house, and sniffed the breeze. Kagome's scent was clean. No fear, no blood. She was not injured, nor was she in pain.

Inuyasha began to ask himself if Naraku had taken her just to lure him here. But, he got more that he accounted for. Sesshoumaru was there too. Well, that couldn't have meant much, because Inuyasha intended to finish Naraku off by himself anyways, but Sesshoumaru was a genuine pain in the ass for anybody that thought himself better that The Lord of the Western Lands.

With a powerful determination, Inuyasha turned and entered the forest, following the tall, white figure of the demon in front of him. 'This will be a long, long night!' he thought, as he climbed a tree not far from the one Sesshoumaru was leaning against. They were both tensed, and aware of every smell coming from the direction of the mountain, focusing on a certain cherry blossom scent.

A few birds flew from a treetop, and Inuyasha's eyes flashed open, only to force him into a stare a second later. Sesshoumaru was no longer leaning against the tree, but was seated at the base of it, staring at his left hand. He was unfolding his long, white fingers, and thoughtfully looking at the two purple marks staining his skin. It was a truly unusual show to be witnessed, and Inuyasha couldn't help but wonder at his brother's strange behavior.

Suddenly, Sesshoumaru entangled his fingers, and put his hands to a rest onto his left knee. He couldn't force an image out of his mind, and it bothered him to some extent. He had never been so… overwhelmed before. The image of the miko's mother came to his mind every time he would try to find a reason to leave the human's rescue up to the one who supposedly loved her.

He frowned for a moment. 'He loves her…' the demon stated, to himself. 'What am I doing here? This is not my place. This is not my battle.' The forest was unbending in its decision to remain silent, as the taiyoukai moved his eyes to follow the pattern of leaves and paths of small creatures that crawled upon the surface of the soil. He wanted answers, his mind was a bottomless pit of questions that he would want answered, and still his very life was behaving like a terrible cage for him.

Surrounded by humans, it became obvious to the great Lord that he would never gain the sufficient strength to rule as he would have desired, hand and will of iron. But still, he would keep that girl in his home, still he would periodically submit himself to the miko's humor, and his brother's presence.

Flashback

"I've always thought death should be cruel and cold…Not like you, Sesshoumaru."

" I am cold… and merciless."

"No…you're not." The human's voice was stating it so confident! Her arm reached out to his right hand, but first met the cold, bloody blade of Tokijin, who flared a dark blue aura towards the human. She winced in pain, but continued her path down the blade, as the taiyoukai stared at her in disbelief.

Her skin soon became stained with blood, and Sesshoumaru gave her a side glance, intrigued. In a second, the blade was clean, and the blood nowhere to be seen. He couldn't even smell it anymore. She could purify youkai blood to that extent? A demon could vanish completely under her touch…

Kagome looked at Sesshoumaru from under her eyebrows, her head tilted to the side and a weary smile upon her face.

Her fingers moving along his sword formed a hypnotic, almost sensual image, and Sesshoumaru took a glimpse at the weapon, before returning the human a curious and intrusive stare. The enormous body beside him clearly stated that he was much above average in his killing skills.

She had been attacked…once again. Those Shikon shards were nothing but trouble! He inwardly wondered why did she not finish off the youkai immediately. She didn't actually need his help, that was obvious.

She reached the handle of his sword, and lightly passed her fingers over his, as the blade sparked a dark blue light.

"Be careful, miko. Tokijin has no patience with purifiers. It may attack you even without my command." He said coldly, and the miko smiled kindly. A warm, unsteady feeling passed through him, and he swiftly sheathed the sword, leaving the human with her arm stretched out towards him.

Her words remained with him, and were dancing into his memories. 'I always thought death would be cruel and cold…Not like you, Sesshoumaru.' How many deaths had he caused?

He had lost count.

He never kept count…

The miko's eyes were so dark that you could lose a lifetime searching for your way out.

End flashback

Sesshoumaru shook the memory from his mind, but he could still feel her touch on his fingers. Her purity was unbelievable. The power that he had felt within her that day had unsettled him. However, the human had no idea of what she could do. Over the years, he had witnessed bits of her power unveiling themselves, bits that shocked her, but did not surprise him.

The simple fact that Tokijin stood still at her touch proved that she could restrain an immense amount of dark power. Otherwise, she would have beet possessed, or thrown back by the sword's evil and vengeful spirit. To that day, he hadn't come across any man or youkai that could resist the sword's spirit, except for himself.

"Ne, Sesshoumaru!" Inuyasha said, not very loudly. The demon beneath his did not raise his heat, but let out a growled "Hm." Inuyasha didn't need more that that. He jumped down from the tree, and seated himself at the youkai's side, holding his hand over his forehead.

"Why do you suppose Naraku took her? I mean, he could have simply taken those shards she was carrying, right?" The night was silent and the crescent moon on the sky had a perfect reflection on the taiyoukai's forehead. Neither looked at the other.

Sesshoumaru still kept a strong hold of the two shards he had found in the well, and was somewhat puzzled that they were still glowing a pure purple light. What was more confusing, though, was the fact that although he was constantly stung by their holy energy, they never lost their purity, and neither did they harm him past that annoying sting.

"The soul of Midoriko is still fighting the demons, inside the Shikon no Tama. The jewel searches for what is deep within the beholder's soul, and chooses to let out holy energy or destructive power. Midoriko has faith in purifiers, but it is difficult for her to believe in youkai."

The miko's words sprouted in his mind, and Sesshoumaru couldn't help but wondering if the youkai taijia Midoriko, the one from whose body this jewel was forged, had indeed found something hidden in the depths of his soul. Something that he did not know existed. There could not be any other justification for the pure glow of the shards.

"If he took her to complete the jewel, he's got a serious problem." Sesshoumaru said, sarcastically, pulling out the shards from his clothing, and stretching out his palm. Inuyasha could see the two purple shards, but couldn't believe his eyes. Sesshoumaru was holding two pure shards of the Shikon.

"How did you…" he started, but his brother cut his sentence.

"I found them inside that well she uses…"

"No, I didn't mean that." Inuyasha said, a little troubled.

"I meant, how did you keep them pure?" The hanyou's eyes were wider than they had ever been, staring at his brother's palm. Sesshoumaru did not answer, but only shrugged his shoulders, looking away. He closed his fist and placed the shards inside his kimono.

"This is not your fight, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha said, not as a reproach, but calmly and with a wave of kindness towards his brother. He did not know where his calm came from. He was usually flaming every time he got close to Sesshoumaru. Now, it seemed like his anger was suddenly repressed, and he could only see the elder demon as his brother.

The distance between them was still huge, and there were times when the hanyou would feel like Sesshoumaru disrespected him immensely, but somehow his anger and his frustration seemed to be fading, slipping away from his heart as he saw Sesshoumaru's features before him.

They looked so much like each other, it was obvious. That made him think of the father he had never had the privilege of knowing. He often wondered how Inutaisho was, what kind of person was he, how come he finally chose to fall for a human? Sesshoumaru knew the answers to all of these questions, but Inuyasha couldn't dream of asking his brother for them.

Sesshoumaru's disgusted look, when he had talked about Inuyasha's human mother was more than a setback to the hanyou. He was certain that the demon would reject his questions in that wintry and inconsiderate manner.

"It may not be…" the demon responded firmly "…but I'm making it my fight." His determination confused Inuyasha, who was now toying with another thought. 'Could it be that he cares for Kagome? The damn bastard! He wouldn't admit to it even if it killed him!' So he said nothing more, and pondered at the thought that Kagome could win any heart, with that optimism and that joyful energy she always illustrated.

Inuyasha smiled inwardly, as he mused at Sesshoumaru suddenly caring for humans. There was that girl, Rin, and now Kagome. His brother was getting soft! 'Maybe that's not that bad of a thing…' he thought, as images of his lovely Kagome came to his mind. She had put Sesshoumaru in some awkward situations, over the years, that was for sure.

"Can you do it?" the two sparking red eyes were stuck on Kagome's face like clutching onto life itself.

"I don't even need to touch him…" the human miko said, slowly, taking a long gaze at the chunk of Shikon no Tama in her hand.

"I only have to…" she began, again, and frowned at the thought. She wasn't sure about this. It all seemed too simple. But if it worked, Naraku could die once and for all! This world would be rid of his damn darkness and his mischievous schemes… forever.

Kagome doubted. 'On the other hand, if it doesn't work, we could all find ourselves facing Naraku and his almost completed Shikon no Tama!' She was definitely… not sure about this. Of course, almost completed didn't mean completed, but half missing was quite a bit more than two shards missing, wasn't it?

Kagome let out a sigh, and decided. She looked Kagura in the eye, and asked:

"Why do you want Naraku dead, anyway?" The witch pressed her lips together and took in a breath of air. That room was beginning to get smaller…

"Freedom…" she simply stated, giving Kagome a half-embarrassed smile, and shrugging her shoulders.

"He's got my heart." Kagura added, and Kagome suddenly felt sorry for the witch, seeing her sad smile.

"I'll do it." She said, firmly, praying to every god she hoped existed that a human miko and a (literally) heartless demon would have any chance against a merged army of demons under the influence of a corrupted Shikon… Or… half of it, anyway!

Kagura just nodded, observing Kagome's strong grip on the jewel. She gave the miko one last look before she exited, hoping that she had made the right choice. It was a dangerous one, but a necessary one nonetheless. Either way, what had she to lose? The answer came, painfully hollow: life.

The door slid open and Kagura barely stepped inside, as Kagome lifted her head towards the sound. It had been hours since Kagura had left her alone, and Kagome was getting nervous with all the waiting she was doing. What took that damn witch so long to get some clothes?

"Your clothes." The witch said, holding out her arm with a bundle of material in hand, then giving Kagome a quick and steady look.

Kagome slowly rose from where she was seated, near a low wooden table, and took the clothing from Kagura's stretched arm, nodding for reassurance. 'I haven't changed my mind, Kagura.' She wanted to say, but the woman's silence made her think that Naraku was somehow watching.

The door slid shut afterwards, and Kagome stood still in front of it, wondering how could Kagura have known that he wasn't listening to their plan, earlier in the day? 'I'll just have to trust her…' she thought, fairly distrustful.

"Oh, this is truly grand!" Kagome loudly stated, a moment later, taking a look at the clothes. They were identical with Kikyo's… much to her despair.

"Now even Naraku takes me for that damn… Ugh!" she lifted her eyes to the ceiling, in a practiced try to put out her own flames.

"Oh well… " she surrendered, beginning to unfold the large clothes, and to undress herself. Her body was still shaky, and she was indeed clod, so there was really no point in making a big deal out of an outfit! 'Yeah… Kikyo's outfit!' her ego cried, but Kagome politely ignored it. The jewel was glowing a powerful purple light, on the wood table, and the miko threw it a hopeful look.

The day had gone by with not much fuss, and Kagome was becoming more annoyed than anything else. Several times, she had tried to get out from that room, but, the second she opened the door, a creepy little girl appeared, holding a large mirror in her arms, announcing that 'You will lose your soul if you try to escape me.'

Kanna wasn't really that much of a talker… Every time, Kagome would dismiss the child's words, and try to go around her, but she fond herself unable to move her stare from that mirror.

A black whirl of… light and… wait! 'Black light? It would seem so…' Then the child turned her back to the miko, and Kagome felt like she had got her breath back. Kanna was a black hole of nothingness. 'Eerie kid…' Kagome thought and entered back into the room.

The sun went down in orange and blood-stained flames, as Kagome tried to use her powers to blow up the wall, and the night watched her keep trying to do so… unsuccessfully. The power just would not spark out of her. She was frustrated…

She took another look at the jewel on the table.

"God, I hope I don't screw up this one too!" she said out loud

"Talking to yourself, miko?" his voice sounded firm and mocking. It appeared to come from nowhere, until a slim form materialized at her side, just as Kagome was finishing the not on her waist. Her first impulse, as she recognized his voice, was to grab the jewel, although he laughed at her gesture.

"Oh, stop being so pathetic, miko! I don't want that thing now!" Naraku's red eyes flared, and Kagome stepped back a bit. The jewel was still on the table, still glowing a purple light, one that she was sure he didn't see. It was fairly impossible for a hanyou to see the glow, either pure or corrupted. Fairly, because she had found out that Inuyasha could see it. Why that was, she couldn't say. Either way, she guessed that it was because of his closeness to her, and Kikyo before her. His bond with both the priestess and herself had resulted in the hanyou to be… blessed, for lack of a better word.

Naraku was grinning. What was new?

"What're you smirking about?" Kagome dared bite out, and he raised his eyebrows in surprise.

"Well look who's suddenly brave! Had a nice chat with Kagura, dear?" his mockery annoyed Kagome. All she could think was how good she'd feel if she would punch him in the face. 'Oh, yeah!' she thought, and smiled.

Kagome didn't respond, so Naraku continued his mocking tone annoying the girl.

"Oh, don't worry, Kagome dear, that stupid hanyou of yours is coming for you." Kagome frowned wondering why he was telling her this. 'Thank you God, he is alright!' she thought.

But Naraku nodded his head slowly, taking a more threatening appearance.

"However, it will not do you much good. Neither will it do him…" He approached Kagome, who took an involuntary step back, and he leaned towards her until the girl almost banged her head against the wall behind her. He was so close she could feel the warmth of his body.

Oddly enough, he didn't smell as disgustingly as she would have imagined. All those demons inside him were certainly kept on a tight guard by this being. And then, Kagome realized it. Naraku's eyes were pitch black. Black. She took a good look at the hanyou who was giving her the same treatment, a barely forming thought squirming in the back of her head. 'Naraku's eyes are red.' Her memories stated.

She could clearly remember his red eyes flashing at her the moment he swooped her up and carried her over the woods, to this house. 'They were always red…' Had he any motive to changing such a minor detail in his appearance? Surely enough, he had changed his body several times, but every time he would grow in strength. Now… it was just his black eyes.

Kagome blinked, as Naraku smiled at her.

"See anything you like?" he asked, almost sincerely.

'What the hell's going on here?' she thought, and her mind raced to make sense of what was happening. However, she decided not to let him know of what she noticed.

"Nothing, really." Kagome said, and his face fell into a disappointed form.

"Well, that's not very nice, now. Here I am trying to be kind to you and you spit venom at me."

"Kind?" Kagome huffed. "That's rich! Kind… " she added sarcastically.

Naraku sighed, and resumed his position, giving the girl some space. She remained leaning against the wooden wall, looking distrustful. He sighed, and shrugged his shoulders.

"Well, I guess you should be given some time to adjust." He took a good look at her, and then said, in a steady tone:

"You know, Kagome, that once Kikyo died, you got your soul back entirely." She frowned at the sudden change of topic, but remained silent.

"That means that the hatred Kikyo held for Inuyasha is now back inside you, my dear." He pressed on, giving Kagome a slick glare. She still refused to answer, but was wondering if that could be true.

"And now… here you are with your own hatred inside to be added to the dead hatred you inherited from that bitch. Nice going, huh? I mean, if it were only you inside of you, dear Kagome, those miko powers would have worked just dandy… But now… Kikyo's death left you with her unsolved hatred for the one you… well… used to love!'

She could hear his words, but resisted to believe what she was told. Kikyo hadn't died in peace. Her soul was still unsettled… 'However, not from hatred towards Inuyasha, but from hatred towards Naraku.' She thought, and her heart somewhat settled.

This couldn't be true. The moment Kikyo died, she, Kagome, had lost the power to purify the jewel… No, it couldn't be true.

"You see…" he continued "… all I really had to do was kill one of you, and the other would have fallen apart, one way or the other. Needless to say, Kikyo was easier to kill. You were always so well guarded, miko! And besides, Onigumo had unfinished business with that bitch…"

His sickening laughter was making Kagome want to hit him with something. However, she couldn't move a muscle. She just stood there, petrified, staring at the jewel. It was still glowing a purple light.

'What the hell is he talking about? The jewel's pure, I can see it!' But inside of her, something shifted. The uneasiness grew stronger and stronger as she was trying to convince herself that Naraku was lying.

"Well, I'll be leaving now… Oh, and be at ease, you'll be receiving company soon enough!"

With that, he was out the door. 'Why didn't he just vanish?' Kagome slightly wandered, gazing at the beautiful game of light reflected onto the wall. The sun had risen sometime between Naraku's entrance and his departure. The morning was silent and cold, and the girl wondered where Inuyasha was, and why was Naraku so sure of himself.

She glided down the wall, and embraced her knees, resting her forehead on them. She hadn't slept, but she didn't feel tired. She was just… tense.

THANK YOU soo much for the reviews, I'm happy you like my fic... As I've said... I, oddly enough, like psychology and psychiatry, and I guess it showes in my writing, 'cuzItend to crack the characters' skull open and rip out their hearts to see inside! hehe... Bloody scene, huh? Well anyway, thanx for all the support! Keep going with'em reviews... I love them!

See ya next chapter!