Disclaimer: I really don't own Inuyasha…I wish though…but I do own San-Maru…(San is with a short O sounding to it…)

Secret Serenity

Chapter 4: Naraku and The Cave

Kagome yawned. She was bored as hell! Nothing but silence through out this whole entire 10 hours!! She would try to make a conversation with Sesshomaru but he would just either say nothing or say his 'oh so famous Hn' sound which, might she add, was really getting annoying! Kagome let out a sigh in frustration. Then she stared at the Inu-youkai.

'I mean really…is it that hard for him to talk…'

"Miko, it's rude to stare." Sesshomaru said coldly.

Kagome blushed in embarrassment and turned her head the opposite way. 'Apparently not…'

"Lady Kagome! Will Lady Kagome play with Rin? Rin would like that very much!" said a giddy child.

Kagome couldn't help but smile at her. "Sure Rin! I would love to play with you!"

Rin let out a cheerful 'Yay' and started jumping up and down. Sesshomaru, hearing everything with his super-good ears, let out a small smile.

'Rin enjoys her…the miko could be a really good care taker for Rin…' Sesshomaru's smile grew a tad bit more.

'I think Rin is making me soft…'

000

"Come on you three!! Kagome could be lost and hurt!! She even forgot to bring her bow and arrows!!" yelled an irritated Hanyou.

"WE ARE GOING AS FAST AS WE CAN INUYASHA!! SO CALM DOWN!!" yelled back and even more irritated demon slayer.

"Sango, Inuyasha…couldn't we all relax and focus on finding Kagome and not yell at each other? It would be easier." said a calm perverted monk.

SLAP

"HENTAI!!" screamed Sango.

Shippo shook his head. "Idiots…"

Kilala, in her true form carrying Sango, Miroku, and Shippo, hissed in agreement.

000

Down in the dark depths of a castle surrounded by miasma, a dark chuckle was heard.

"Fools…" said the dark figure. "…they cannot withstand the power of Naraku…"

The dark figure known as Naraku chuckled evilly.

'Get ready Lord Sesshomaru…you and the miko are going to perish with my new comrades…'

000

Laughter was heard from a small open valley filled with flowers. Rin squealed in delight as Kagome chased her around, apparently playing tag…

"Can't catch Rin, Lady Kagome!!" Rin said, laughing.

Kagome on the other hand, was getting tired of running. "Rin! How are you so fast?!" With that, Kagome collapsed to the ground. Rin halted and turned around. "Lady Kagome? Are you alright?" When she got no response, she ran over to her.

Sesshomaru, on the other hand, was watching the whole façade under the tree he was sitting at, and knowing him, Sesshomaru new what the miko was doing. He let out a quiet chuckle, so no one could hear him.

When Rin got close enough to Kagome, the miko grabbed Rin and brought her down to her lap and started to tickle the poor laughing child.

"LADY KAGOME!! THAT TICKLES!!" Rin laughed out. Kagome laughed with her. Just then, Kagome felt a strong aura coming their way and with it, the almost completed Sacred Jewel. She turned to Sesshomaru, who already felt it and was already by their side in a mere second.

"Sesshomaru…"

Already knowing what she was going to say, he nodded and said the name.

"Naraku…"

The said person came from the shadows of the forest and chuckled evilly.

"Well, well…a miko and a dog…and here I thought that the Great Western Ruler was a lord…not a dog following its master…"

Sesshomaru growled out ferociously. Without turning around he spoke up. "Jaken, take Rin and get to safety."

Jaken, who was back by Ah-Un, nodded. "Yes milord!"

Sesshomaru nodded back, showing that he approved his answer. Then he looked at Rin. "Rin, go with Jaken and Ah-Un. They will take you to a safe place. I'll follow soon after I finish off this annoying Hanyou." Sesshomaru said as he stared at Naraku. Rin nodded and ran towards Jaken and Ah-Un. Once Sesshomaru was sure that they were out of sight, he pulled out his Tokijin. Naraku cackled.

"My, my Lord Sesshomaru…planning on killing me so soon?"

Sesshomaru smirked a bit before declaring his statement.

"Precisely." With that, Sesshomaru made a head start towards Naraku. Kagome, on the other hand, sat weaponless and helpless to help…well she could give out warnings.

"SESSHOMARU!! BEHIND YOU!!"

Sesshomaru turned around in time to dodge a tentacle that was heading his way. Kagome gasped as she saw another tentacle heading towards Sesshomaru. "SESSHO…." but she was too late. The tentacle already hit Sesshomaru as another one hit Tokijin out of his hands. Sesshomaru let out a grunt and slammed into the ground with a lot of force. Kagome nearly cried.

"SESSHOOOMMMAAARRRUUUU!!" Kagome cried out. She ran over to the beat up form that now laid on the forest ground. Kagome couldn't hold back the tears that fell from her eyes. "Se..Sesshomaru? Sesshomaru please get up. Please…" The inu-youkai stirred before getting up. Sesshomaru rubbed his sore head and looked around until his eyes locked onto a teary eyes miko. His eyes widened in shock for a moment before returning back to normal. "Miko…why do you cry?"

Kagome couldn't take it anymore. She let the tears fall more as she ran her arms around Sesshomaru's waist, embracing him. This time Sesshomaru was shocked beyond belief. The miko…the human miko was actually hugging him! For the first time in his life time, he didn't know what to do…what to think…what to say. Sesshomaru placed his only clawed hand on her head before asking the question again.

"Miko…" he said softly, "…why do you cry?"

Kagome sniffed before answering.

"I...I was worried…"

Now Sesshomaru was curious. "Worried about what?"

Kagome lifted her head, her puffy red eyes looking into his golden ones.

"I was worried…about you…"

Sesshomaru's eyes widened. The miko was worried about Sesshomaru? How? What was there to worry about?

"Why?"

"Be...because…I'd thought you would die…" Kagome chocked out.

Sesshomaru let out a sort snort. "There's no need for you to worry about me, miko. I'm not that easily beaten…"

"Says the Demon Lord that just got thrown down towards the ground like a ragged doll…" mumbled Kagome, as she started to calm herself down, once she realized that Sesshomaru was ok. Sesshomaru couldn't help but let a small smile escape at that comment. Then a low cackle was heard from in front of them. Both heads turned around to see Naraku was still there.

"How touching…but I really must get going…oh but before I do…" One of Naraku's tentacles headed straight for Kagome. Sesshomaru saw this coming and so swatted the tentacle away. Naraku, knowing that the inu-youkai would do that had sent another tentacle at her and grabbed the remaining jewel shards that dangled from her neck. Kagome gasped. "The jewel shards!!" Naraku let out another chuckle before vanishing.

Sesshomaru stood up. Kagome did the same. Kagome cursed.

"Why that good for nothing, son-of-a ARRRGGG!!" she yelled out, stomping her feet in frustration.

Sesshomaru snorted. Kagome stopped what she was doing and looked at Sesshomaru.

"Um…Sesshomaru? Are you…um…ok?" she shyly asked.

Sesshomaru raised an eyebrow before answering her.

"I am capable of surviving." This time it was Kagome who snorted. "Sure you are." she teased. Kagome rolled her eyes.

"Hn."

They were both silent for a couple of minutes…that was…until Kagome spoke up.

"Hey Sesshomaru…there's something up ahead…" Kagome pointed out.

Sesshomaru looked at where she was pointing at and indeed there was something up ahead.

"Come. We will recoup for the night in there."

Kagome nodded as they headed down towards the rocky substance. (That they have yet to find out what it was…or what was inside it…MUHAHAHAHA!!)

000

Morning came early. Sesshomaru was the first one to wake up. He turned his head around and saw that the miko was still asleep. He silently snorted. Kagome was sprawled out all over the ground with drool coming out of her mouth. 'What a disgrace…women shouldn't look like that…nor act like that either...'

Sesshomaru got up and walked over towards the still sleeping girl and gave her a slight kick to the side. As suspected, she woke up with a start.

"What the hell…couldn't I just sleep in a little bit more?!" she snapped. Kagome then realized who was in the place and mumbled an apology to the inu-youkai. Sesshomaru on he other hand, was slightly amused. Kagome stood up and gasped as she took in her surroundings. The place had smooth walls with scrolls all around, as a fancy carpet of some sort was laid on the ground. She looked back at where the place grew darker from less sunlight. 'Must go a long ways…' Kagome thought. She then turned around to Sesshomaru

"What is this place?" Kagome asked. Sesshomaru looked around. "It's a cave." Kagome then huddled closer to Sesshomaru who raised an eye brow at this. "Well, this place gives me the creeps…" She squeaked out. "…and I hope we're the only ones in here too. I mean really!! Who would want to live in a place that has a dark tunnel that may be never ending that drips water from the ceiling! I currently wouldn't!" Sesshomaru nearly rolled his eyes at the comment. Just then something low emitted from the cave that closely resembled a growl. Both heads turned to the darker part of the cave. Kagome let out a scream, hurting the inu-youkai's ears as she dug herself into Sesshomaru's body. In the dark were not only two, but three pairs of eyes looking at them, and whatever it was, it's huge! Sesshomaru looked back at Kagome. She was shaking violently. Kagome then spoke up, her voice wavering a bit.

"Th…th…there's something…over…over there…Se…Sesshomaru…"

Sesshomaru looked back towards the darkened tunnel.

"Indeed…it seems that we are not the only ones in this cave now."

000

Ok, ok!! I'm sorry!! It's a cliffy so just get use to it!! So the adventure begins….MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!! Oh…and while you're here…REVIEW DAMMIT!! (Does the puppy eyes on you) Pwwwweeeeeaaaaasssssse?