I do not- never have- never will own Inuyasha or its characters.

Birth Rite chapter 21

One day earlier- just after the fight in the forest.

Naraku moved unheard through the caves using Kagome's memories to guide him. He glided from one cavern to another finding each empty. He'd beat them here though he was certain they weren't far behind him. Moving cautiously he searched the caves finding hidden corners to set his traps in.

They wouldn't know what hit them. Kagome and her abilities would finally be his to abuse. His laughter filled the caves, the breeze carrying the sadistic vibrations further from him until it echoed freely through the empty tunnels.

Yes, today he'd have what he wanted.

Hours later, his traps set, Naraku disappeared within the many passageways littered throughout the catacombs. A female's laughter in the distance had alerted him to the pack's arrival. He'd refused his body its physical form; he carried no scent when he traveled as the mist. They'd never know he was there, never know they were headed for death.

He waited silently throughout the day and into the night. He cursed silently wondering just where the Hell the rest of the pack had gone. The eldest Dog, Sesshoumaru, and one of the females had arrived followed shortly after by the dark haired male and his female.

But Inuyasha and Kagome had yet to arrive, as did Shippo and the woman with orange eyes. He waited patiently, noting when the sun disappeared behind the horizon. He listened as each couple eventually sauntered into their respective rooms, and listened closer still until their breaths were heard coming in steady slow rhythms.

He was getting bored.

Perhaps he'd spring a few traps early. After all, the others were sure to venture in, and he'd bet his right arm that they'd search the caves for their pack. All he had to do was be sure to set one of the traps further in the caves.

Shifting noiselessly from his hidden perch, Naraku smiled, his lips peeling back to reveal sharp white teeth.

Moving swiftly, he made his way into one of the bedchambers, his eyes focusing on the man and woman sleeping soundly on a pile of furs. The man, Miroku, if memory served correctly, was lying on his back, his arm wrapped protectively around the female's shoulder. Her head rested on his arm, masses of dark hair spilling around them.

Naraku nearly choked aloud when the man's hand found the curve of the female's breast, her growl of warning echoing around them, her hand pushing his from her person. Her mate merely smiled contentedly in his sleep, his abused hand seeking comfort on her curved hip.

It was to bad this man insisted on being loyal to his pack. He might have made an interesting companion with his lecherous ways.

He recognized the man then. He was the wolf who'd attacked him in the forest the night Sesshoumaru had nearly ripped his throat out. He snarled, catching himself before the sound could materialize.

Payback was a bitch.

A noise further down the passageway drew him from the sleeping couple's room. He followed the light sound of laughter, his eyes narrowing on a beautiful young woman, her voice echoing sweetly down the corridor.

" Sess, I need to use the bathroom!" she giggled continuing her struggle to recover her hand from its invisible prison behind the fur covered doorway.

" I'll come with you Rin." Sesshoumaru said from the inside the room.

" No." she laughed. " I'll be right back. You just keep the bed warm for me. Deal?"

" Hurry up then." came the Dog's response.

So this was the eldest Dog's bitch, he was certain now.

Yes, payback was certainly a bitch.

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Present.

The cavern was eerily silent. There was no laughter in the passageways, no bickering by the fireplace. There was only the barest hint of a growl hissing through the stale air that curled around them.

Inuyasha growled in response, his lips curling back in a snarl, his ears twitching in the direction the warning growl had come from. Pulling Kagome closer, he glanced toward Shippo tipping his head to the right.

He watched in silence as the fox nodded in understanding before taking hold of Kirara's hand and making his way down the corridor, both disappearing in its depths.

Turning to Kagome, Inuyasha leaned forward, his eyes searching the darkness of the cave.

" We'll search the remaining rooms, then join Kirara and Shippo at the emergency exit. The others are most likely waiting for us there as well, but I want to be sure that everyone is safe. "

His voice whispered past her senses, but something was wrong. The sun was rising higher in the sky outside, but she felt like darkness was closing in on them.

Making their way through the dark passageways they checked each room, one by one, finding them empty. Another growl echoed faintly in the distance, and Inuyasha immediately changed direction. Pulling Kagome behind him he weaved further into the catacombs.

His brother's growl resonated around him, but what frightened him was that he couldn't hear Sango and Miroku. Shippo and Kirara were also strangely silent, as was Rin.

Kagome's body jerked closer to his. Something touched her, though a quick glance over her shoulder confirmed there was nothing there.

Inuyasha stopped the instant her body collided with his. His eyes searched hers. " What's wrong?"" I swear something touched me." She whispered, her eyes still searching the darkness. There were no torches lit, no sounds echoing through the halls. Her skin crawled where the invisible touch had caressed, and in her mind she could swear she heard Naraku laughing at her distress.

Inuyasha growled, his anger building. He was touching her, and there wasn't a damn thing he could physically do to stop him. Not until Naraku took his human form.

Inuyasha felt her distress, nearly tasting her worry and fear. The others were so quiet, the only sign of their presence heard in the distant growls of his Brother. But they were muffled, as if there were something blocking their vocal patterns. Pulling Kagome closer, Inuyasha began moving again. They were nearing the exit, and he silently thanked his demon heritage for the ability to find his way through the darkness. He hadn't been down here in centuries; he and Sesshoumaru had checked the exit's condition periodically to make certain escape was possible should the need ever present itself.

He smiled suddenly when he caught the faint scent of his brother, noting too that Miroku and Sango were nearby as well. But where were Shippo and Kirara?Turning the corner Inuyasha was stunned by what met his vision. The exit was sealed. Barking lightly, he was pleased by the answering growl, though the message it carried brought a new fear. Naraku wouldn't understand their language. It was the only advantage they had left.

" The exit is blocked from both sides. We can't get back to you, nor can we exit the cave. Miroku and Sango are clearing the debris on the other side. " Sesshoumaru barked.

" We'll begin clearing it on this side. " Inuyasha murmured before suddenly reaching for his mate. Kagome squeaked in surprise when Inuyasha's clawed hand reached to pull her behind him. A moment later her ears picked up the sound of light footsteps making their way toward them. Someone was coming.

" What the Hell happened here?" Shippo asked, he and Kirara making their way around the corner.

" Naraku." Inuyasha hissed. " And just where the Hell have you two been? You should have beat us down here."

" I made a wrong turn." Shippo muttered, his embarrassment clear. '' It's not like I've ever been here before."

" We are loosing oxygen. " Sessoumaru hissed. "I can't blow out the blockage or I'll risk caving the rest of the structure in. "

" We'll open it up. " Inuyasha grunted, his hands already beginning to dig through the fallen rock. " Tell Miroku and Sango to stop digging. You should be resting quiet to conserve air. And where the Hell's Rin? Why can't I hear her?" Inuyasha suddenly growled, realization barely setting in that they had yet to hear her voice.

Seshoumaru's angry growl echoed around them. ''Naraku used her to lure us here. She is unconscious."

Kagome teared up, her heart sinking with the knowledge that Rin was hurt. Her family had been buried alive, and Naraku had used Rin as bait. Shaking her head she reached forward, her hands fumbling through the rock and dirt trying to help as best as she could.

They each took a section and began the frantic pace of digging out their family. The more they uncovered, the more the tunnel seemed to weaken, bits of rock and dirt filtering heavily over them as they struggled to clear away more of the debris. Hours passed, each person moving back and forth stacking the rocks against the walls of the passageway.

Kagome moved without thought, her hands, like the others, beginning to bleed as bits of sharpened stone cut through her tender flesh. Grabbing another rock, she stumbled over to the wall before dropping it as gently as possible on the top. Her head jerked up at Inuyasha's sharp bark, a smile stretching over her face when Inuyasha reached into the dirt pulling Sesshoumaru's hand back through. One by one her family was brought through the blockage, but only when she tried to walk toward them did she realize she couldn't.

Her skin crawled when Naraku moved in behind her, his hand closing roughly over her arm the moment his body took its physical form.

" Take a good long look Angel, because it's the last time you'll ever see them alive." he hissed, his laughter bouncing off the rock walls.

" No- please. Don't do this. PLEASE!!" Kagome begged, struggling to pull away from his bruising hold.

" Inuyasha! INUYASHA!!" she screamed, her heart shattering when the barrier gave way, Inuyasha's head turning instantaneously in response to her cry.

She could feel Naraku's claws tearing into her arm as she struggled, could feel it as he forced her body into mist. And she could feel, for the briefest moment, Inuyasha's hand grab her own a second before her physical body vanished.

She screamed again when the walls surrounding them imploded, her family, her mate caught within the storm of falling rock and dirt.

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Sorry for the long wait on this. I got a new job, a sort of promotion I guess, and between trying to learn new computer programs and trying to stay caught up on regular life...lets just say that life is busy-- still.

I haven't had much time to write lately. This was all I could get together in what amounted to 1 ½ days, and I am fairly certain that it shows. It needs edited, and I still haven't decided if I like it at all. But considering it's been a month or better since I last posted- it'll have to do. I don't want you guys waiting any longer on me to get an update out.

Please let me know what you think. It seems that less and less are reviewing, although there are a lot still adding to favs. Please review guys. It is so much more than just statistics for me. It lets me know that the story is being read and enjoyed, that I am still entertaining you all, and not boring you to tears with a fic that is loosing interest. I am just hoping that everyone has just gotten busy, and that that is the reason behind the drop in reviews.

And to those who continue to support my mad attempts at authoring...

Thank you all for continuing to support me!!!! I come back time and again, writing new chapters for you guys as thanks for your undying encouragement. Without you all I would stop making the effort entirely as it is not worth making the time for if you guys aren't reading and enjoying.. so thank you for taking the time to let me know that you're still out there wanting more.

Until next time...Neisha