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Chapter Twelve: Taken

"Are you sure you're alright?" Yusuke smiled gently at the pregnant miko. He had already asked her the question several times, but things just didn't seem right with her.

"Yeah, I'm fine, Yusuke." she faked a smile and walked on. Deep down she was confused. How did she manage to release so much power into one blast? She stared at the hand decorated with the silver bracelet Koenma had given her. It just didn't seem possible that something so destructive could come from her. Without control, everyone who wasn't human, could be hurt by her. She flinched. Most of the group she's travelling with wasn't human.

"You don't have to lie to me, Kagome." Yusuke stopped her and pulled her in for a hug, "I can tell something is affecting you deeply."

"I'm just having a hard time believing that I could cause so much damage. I didn't know I was capable of that." Kagome laid her head against his shoulder and held him tighter, "I was afraid I wouldn't be able to stop it. I can only imagine how many lives were destroyed because of my inadequacies."

"Kagome, you can't let that bother you. You were protecting yourself and your friends."

"I could have hurt any of you. I didn't think before acting. One of you could have been in the way. I could never live with myself if I killed someone important to me." she cried and clung tighter to Yusuke. He sat, bringing her down and placing her in his lap.

"Please, Kagome, don't cry. You'll get better at it. We'll make sure that you learn to control it better." he whispered softly while he stroked her hair, "We're all okay and very proud of how you defended Genkai and Botan. If you hadn't, we might not have made it in time to save any of you."

"It's true, Kagome." Kurama knelt next to them, "Please, do not be sad. What you did wasn't wrong."

"There was so much damage and I'm sure there are more youkai around now. What if...what if he is around?" Kagome lifted her eyes to look at Kurama, "Surely he couldn't miss what I just did."

"I suppose you are right, Kagome, but we wouldn't let him take you. If he shows up her to confront us, we'll protect you." Kurama smiled. Kagome only nodded, there was no way she could smile just yet, "Here, give me your hand and I'll help you up."

"Thank you. Both of you." Kagome kissed Yusuke's cheek lightly before allowing Kurama to help her up.

"Are you guys ready yet?" Genkai looked over her shoulder, "We still have a long ways to walk. Are you sure you can manage, Kagome?"

"I'll be fine for now. If I get too tired I'm sure Kirara will allow me to ride on her back." Kagome answered and scratched behind the neko's ears.

"How can you ride her? She's so tiny!" Kuwabara looked down to the neko in his arms. Kirara looked up and gave a cute little mew before jumping down. Within seconds, fire swirled around the neko and then died down as a larger neko stood in it's place. Kuwabara nearly fell over from shock. Kirara gently nudged Kagome's elbow.

"You want me to ride now, Kirara?" Kagome questioned. Kirara nodded and crouched down enough to let Kagome climb on, "Thank you so much, Kirara."

"She's huge!" Kuwabara pet Kirara's head.

"This is her second form and this form can fly, but we won't do that today." Kagome smiled polietly, "I'm sure someday she'll give you a ride, as long as you're not afraid of heights."

"We should go now." Genkai pressed and the group nodded.

They walked for several hours, stopped, rested a bit and walked some more, all under the watchful eye of one inu taiyoukai that had been quietly stalking them. His golden eyes often watched his mate talk and smile with a few of the men around her. He had waited five hundred years and finally she had returned to him.

He knew about the well from information he acquired from the monk shortly before sealing him and the youkai exterminator together. He saved them for her return. At first his intention was to make his mate watch while he painfully tortured the pair and then ended their pathetic human lives, but now, seeing Kagome in the condition she was in, he felt different. If his calculations were correct and the monk had not been lying, she was carrying his pup.

He was determined to bring her home. There was nothing that could stop him, but he held back and watched the group from afar. The wolf was there. One of the few he spared. One of the few that Kagome had befriended. His concern was focused mostly on three of the travellers. Three he had heard about from many youkai under his control. One being the Spirit Detective, Yusuke Urameshi. His largest concern lie with him. He may be a human, but he was very strong. Then there was Hiei and Kurama, a smart pair he had heard and strong as well. Many youkai and humans had died by Hiei's hands alone.

Sesshomaru watched and plotted. He'd have to take a few down to get to his mate. All of them would protect her. The blue-haired girl, although she had some energy, wasn't a concern. The tall human mildly concerned him as did the old woman. It was definitely an odd group that his mate had decided to travel with.

Hiei stopped again and scanned the area around them with his Jagan. He felt like there was something there, something that was hiding itself very well. It made Hiei move closer to Kagome, which happened to catch the attention of his teammates.

"What's up, Hiei?" Yusuke questioned him and moved closer to Kagome as well, "Something out there?"

"Possibly." Hiei answered shortly and glanced over at Yusuke to let him know to be alert. Yusuke nodded in acknowledgement.

"What is it?" Kagome hadn't been paying attention to them, but she felt the change in their energies, "You guys are tense. How come?"

"Do you think you could walk for a little bit?" Hiei looked up her and she nodded.

"I suppose I could. Kirara could use another break."

Yusuke helped her down and Yusuke and Hiei were at her sides quickly. She gave them each a questioning gaze. Hiei ignored her, Yusuke only smiled. She opened her mouth to speak when Kurama cut her off.

"It's alright, Kagome. We're just being extra cautious." he was walking behind her now.

He narrowed his golden eyes. He had felt the fire youkai's power spread to search the area and he hid his own energy well, but apparently Hiei wasn't taking any chances, but neither was Sesshomaru. He would take her back and kill the ones around her if need be.

Kagome froze when she felt it. A surge of power that was definitely strong. Her face drained of all it's color when he stepped into the clearing behind them. Her heart pounded heavily and moments later blackness consumed her.

Hiei caught her as she fell and Sesshomaru was upon them quicker than any of them could see. He held a sword of immense power in his left hand and used the weapon to knock Hiei away. He used the blade to knock away a blast from Yusuke and with precision and ease he used one of the swords techniques, the wind scar. It scattered the group apart and Sesshomaru used the time to lift Kagome into his arms. With her in his arms, they would not attack. Summoning at puffy white cloud at his feet, he took to the air with his mate in his grasp.

"Are you alright?" Koga lifted Botan into his arms and checked for signs of serious injuries. She was bruised, but she'd be fine.

"I'm fine. How are the others?" she asked. He helped her to stand and then looked around. The group was slowly gathering together. Their faces mixing between sad and angry. Kagome was no longer with them. He growled. He should have known better. He knew how powerful the Tetsusaiga could be. He had seen it in action many times.

"Damn it!" Yusuke screamed out and punched the ground, "We can't just stand here! We have to go after them!"

"We can't. Not with so many injured." Kurama said quietly. He held a small, injured Kirara in his arms and Genkai was lying not to far from his feet, "We'll have to wait. We've all suffered minor wounds and we should rest for the night to heal."

"How can you say that! Don't you feel anything for her? How can you let him take her and not want to rescue her?"

"We would only be slowed down right now with the injuries, Yusuke. We'll have to wait."

"You're avoiding the subject, Kurama!"

Kurama glared at Yusuke and shut him up. There was nothing he could do anyway. Kagome was Sesshomaru's mate. Whether she liked it or not, the bond could not be broken unless one of them were dead and Kurama knew it was very unlikely that anyone in their group could kill the Lord of Makai.

A/N: There! I hope you like it. Some of you have been quite persistent that I get the next chapter out. I must say I love you guys for being so interested in my fan fic. I am truly honored to have fans like you! Ja ne!