Disclaimer: I DO NOT OWN INUYASHA!

"Kaide…" Inuyasha now in his own form looked over the priestess, who lay unconscious before him. 'The old bat has gone and outdone herself.' He thought.

"Well thanks." Inuyasha said, knowing she couldn't hear him but wanting to show some gratitude because that's what Kagome would want him to do if she were there. Thinking of Kagome made him think of the others and hope they were alright.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Hmm…" Naraku gazed into Kannas mirror. "So Kikyo's younger sister broke the curse with a spell of her own did she? Well it is expected from a sibling of Kikyo's.

That was it. The only thing Naraku knew could possibly force Sesshomaru into playing along with his plans, but perhaps his plan was not at a complete loss. Perhaps Sesshomaru would abandon the girl and leave her to her untimely death at the hands of whatever might abide within the forest, or maybe he would just tire of her and end it himself.

"We shall see how this unfolds..."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Sango" Miroku looked at the demon slayer waiting for her acknowledgment.

"Yes Miroku?" Sango could see Miroku was worried about something.

"When we last met with Inuyasha" Miroku paused. "Some things stood out and seemed a little peculiar don't you think?"

"Now that you mention it, Inuyasha seemed…different."

"Exactly" Miroku paused. "Not only did he seem unusually calm and collected, but he seemed stronger and I sensed a greater power within him than usual."

"What are you saying Miroku" Sango asked

"Well, the Inuyasha we know would want Kagome to remain out of harms way and to do so he would do anything to eliminate the threat, not take her away or hide her."

"Miroku's right" Piped Shippo "Inuyashas not that smart, and besides he hates it when Kagome goes home, he wouldn't make her go home unless it was something serious like Naraku."

"Shippo's right." Miroku agreed.

"Then Miroku does that mean we led Kagome right into a trap by handing her directly over to whoever that was?" Sango asked, thinking of Kohaku; she made a silent vow to save Kagome no matter the cost.

Miroku could see the pain set in on Sangos face. He knew she could not bear to lose someone else and she was probably thinking of Kohaku.

"Sango" Miroku tried to comfort her "We wont know for a fact if our conclusions are true. Let us visit Kaide's village."

"Right" Sango hopped on Kirara along with Miroku and Shippo. "Lets go." To herself she thought of Inuyasha and Kagome 'Kagome hold on, Inuyasha please be alright.'

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

"Where to start, I cant catch Kagomes scent anywhere." An irritated Inuyasha voiced. "Where In the hell is she!?" He wanted to believe she was fine but something kept bringing up horrible thoughts of the danger she could be in.

Suddenly her scent engulfed his nostrils, taken by surprise, Inuyasha turned quickly in the direction of the scent.

"Kagome…" He did not see who he wanted to see but he was definitely glad they were here.

"Inuyasha" It was Mirokus voice.

"Sango, Miroku, Shippo" Inuyasha looked over the group several times "Where is Kagome?" he almost pleaded.

"We were hoping you could answer that" replied Miroku

"What do you mean, how the hell should I know. I left her with you"

"Inuyasha you mean to tell me you never returned to camp" Miroku asked.

"No there was a barrier, I couldn't return!" Inuyasha spat at him.

"Well we saw you and-"Sango was cut off

"And what! Where is Kagome?" Inuyasha screamed.

"She went with you, or who we thought was you, Inuyasha please calm down, how could we have known it wasn't you?" Sango pleaded with him.

"It definitely wasn't me you saw and there's something going on but I'm not entirely sure. I don't blame you guys, but when I find out who is behind all of this I'm going to kill them!"

"Inuyasha what do you know? You should fill us in if there was something to be said right." Miroku asked.

"Alright" Agreed Inuyasha as he took a seat on the ground next to Kirara, and began to explain all that had happened to him over the course of two days.

"So you were in Sesshomarus body" Miroku half asked.

"There must have been a plan, that's why there was a barrier. To keep you out and allow Sesshomaru to go through with his plan without interference." Sango added

"No, it wasn't Sesshomarus plan. He doesn't care about the jewel and he definitely would not parade around in my body." Inuyasha argued.

"Not to mention the fact that Sesshomaru is so noble, he would never use trickery to defeat his opponent" Miroku figured he knew who was actually behind this.

"Naraku must be behind this. He enjoys using such trickery and he knew how much Sesshomaru and me despise each other. He played of that to use us as pawns in his little game." Inuyasha despised Naraku and the ways he used people for his own gain, never sullying his own hands.

"Sesshomarus hate for you Inuyasha is his only true weakness" Miroku finished turning his eyes toward the setting sun and as he did so he heard a 'humph!' come from Inuyasha's direction.

"None of this really matters right now" Inuyasha said as he stood. "We have to save Kagome!"

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOX

Night had fallen again and as the temperature dropped, Kagome placed herself between Sesshomarus arms. Unlike with Inuyasha, Kagome fit perfectly against Sesshomaru. She placed her head against his marble chest, allowing his fur to wrap tightly around her.

Kagome finally fell asleep with her had resting gently on Sesshomarus shoulder and her fingers still intertwined in the strands of his fare hair.

She breathed slowly in and out, almost silently. She was at peace in her resting state. Sesshomaru on the other hand was raging yet another war with himself. Hands placed sternly at his side, Sesshomaru thought of the choice he had made to touch a mortal, to kiss her, and of how he had succumb to such petty desires; wanting her almost needing her. It made him sick. He wanted to throw her off of him, to kill her, anything to rid himself of the tormenting feelings she had brought forth in him.

If he were to kill her, take her life, so easily he would end these thoughts. He could destroy his weakness, but because she had indeed come out of nowhere and drilled a hole in his heart, he knew that with losing her he would also sever a piece of himself. How she had become so important to him and made him feel the way he did around her, Sesshomaru did not know.

There was one option he could take that would not involve her dying, but it did involve never seeing her unless by chance, which he doubted would happen…he would make sure of it. She would be pleased to return to her friends he was sure.

Moving quickly as not to wake Kagome, Sesshomaru stood with Kagome cradled gently in his arms. Pulling her closer, he set off in the direction of Inuyashas scent.

When at last Sesshomaru met up with Inuyashas group, he slowed to a walking pace.

"SESSHOMARU!" Inuyasha ran toward his half brother, filled with raged, when the sight of Kagomes sleeping form caught his eye and causing him to halt where he was.

"I suggest you keep a better eye on this human Inuyasha" Sesshomaru stepped forward and placed Kagome down at Inuyashas feet.

"Ka…Kagome?" Inuyasha bent down and picked her up to place her on Kiraras back. "You let her live?"

"Have I not told you before that I will not play by the rules Naraku has put into place, or do you take me as a fool Inuyasha?" Sesshomaru explained as he took his leave. "I do not have time for a human such as her"

'On the contrary, I wish I had all the time in the world for you little Miko.' Sesshomaru disappeared in to the darkness surrounding the Forrest- with a painful sting in his chest.