Author's note: Since the last chapter was a major cliffy I doubt that anyone would bother to read this but seriously, I gave plenty of very obvious hints that Kagome was not killed, legally I can't do that. This one's out a little later than I'd hoped but its here, and I appreciate the excessive reviews. Not to mention those of you who threatened me with bloodily harm, I can't write if I am comatose. Enjoy the chapter not my death. (AN Keep in mind the first scene happens in a matter of seconds)

Disclaimer: AS I do not have the right to kill characters I am clearly not the owner or creator of Inuyasha.

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When Good Miko Go Bad

Chapter 23 Hostages

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All he could smell was that horrible scent, her beautiful fragrance mixed with that metallic warning. Am I insane or did it just get stronger. Inuyasha struggled against the magic of the rosary, only succeeding in raising his head enough to see he was lying at Kagome's feet. As the magical increase of gravity faded somewhat, he struggled to look up at her face, intent on telling her off, but the words died before they reached his tongue. There; just below the mounds of her breasts, was a glowing arrow.

Part of his mind registered that this was the reason he'd just been sat, while another part came to the conclusion that the culprit was behind him, and was mentally cursing Kagome for not moving if she had seen, for clearly she had. Within his divided mind Inuyasha's demon blood was boiling unopposed, his human blood having turned to ice and all of him screamed in agony. An agony all too familiar, but this time, it was different, this time, he had a target.

Rapidly the magic pining him to the ground dispersed, a triumph that sunk his heart. As if in slow motion, Kagome fell to her knees. Released entirely from his bindings Inuyasha caught her, carefully avoiding jostling the arrow shaft. Helplessness shown in his eyes as the white fabric of her upper robes stained red. Feebly a hand moved into the confines of those robes, pulling out an item of great suffering. "Take it." Kagome commanded hoarsely, her voice cracking, her breathing wet with blood. She ignored her physical condition, holding out the stringed jewel with a pale hand. Even stained in her blood the jewel shown with purity in Kagome's possession.

Inuyasha stared at her face then to the jewel, eyes set with determination. "No." In response Kagome's eyes widened, she opened her mouth to insist, but Inuyasha hushed her, "You're not gonna' die here, ya hear me." His eyes were rimed in red, demon markings flashing on and off his cheeks, nails and fangs growing and shrinking with each breath.

Weakly Kagome smiled, catching his drift and intentions "Okay, no dying, for either of us." The warning tone of I'll-kill-you-myself-if-you-die-for-me came through despite the blood trickling down the corner of her mouth.

Devilishly he smirked, "Deal." As he gently propped her up against the tree they'd been examining. "You just sit and enjoy the show." His fingers curled tightly around tetsagia's hilt, channeling his will for it to suppress his demonic nature into the blade. Slowly, ever so slowly the rage dimmed into what he recognized as his own anger, the lust for blood diminishing. "Hey bitch," he growled at the miko before him, "you're gonna pay for that." His aura ripped around him violently, tetsaigia pulsed.

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Shippou stretched with a yawn as the others went about making breakfast, he looked around innocently, "Hey, where's Kagome, and Inuyasha?" A Miroku-like grin blossomed on his young face, "Yah don't think that they…"

The monk himself smiled innocently while a nearby taijiya looked from man to boy with utter horror, "They have been apart quite a long time and could be reacquainting themselves with the wonders that are their-"

"Kagome left a note; she and Inuyasha went to check out that thread." Sango explained patiently as Miroku sunk to the ground, a lump sprouting from his head, a dreamily smile on his lecherous face.

Two laughs drew the groups attention. "Are you always like this?" Shiri blinked curiously at them.

"They do seem very close, do they not Shiri-chan?" Tari covered a laughed with her hand as she politely tried not to make fun of her friend's friends. The effort failed when Kiara bounded happily onto Miroku's swelling head and meowed, "I'll take that as affirmation." She said between laughs. Without warning she dropped to the ground mid-laugh, ceasing all other laughter. Shiri was the next to drop the others stared on in confused horror and Kiara, and Shippou succumbed as well. Sango barely had time to register the new chilling laughs filling their camp site before she too fell atop Miroku.

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The aura surrounding this demon, it is frightening. How can a mere half bread, a child such as this possess such youki? "Step aside hanyou I have no desire to kill you as well." She readied another arrow; intent on finishing the girl quickly, If she must die there is reason for the child to suffer. The line of sight pointed perfectly at Kagome, the miko released it. The projectile hadn't gone a meter when it was shredded in midair. "I have ordered you to stay ou-" Tetsagai cut through her words as she instinctively brought up a barrier to defend herself, only just able to keep the sword at bay. "How dare you challenge me? I shall make you regret that boy." The threat trailed off into a hiss, the shawls around her face falling back to reveal her scaly face.

Through the barrier Inuyasha could clearly see Kagome's attacker, he glared, "So the story's true, you've become a demon, priestess." Lady Deichi looked back at him with cold snakelike eyes, distaining to reply; instead she exerted her spirit energy into pushing back the sword threatening her. Inuyasha was flung back with it into a tree, its trunk, already damaged from a similar blow, couldn't take the impact and snapped with a groan. Before the trunk could hit the ground Inuyasha was up again, sword in hand, yelling a vicious war cry as he struck out. With little effort the miko blocked the attack with her left hand, redirecting the energy off into the tree line.

What the hell? The wind scar useless against a human Inuyasha tensed, so did his opponent. She held up a single hand, her aura thrumming with spiritual power. "You die here." The woman hissed, all too snake-like. There was no need for her to reload the bow she held, the arrow she drew back was made purely out of energy; spiritual power so dense it was visible even to Inuyasha. He readied tetsagia. Deichi drew back the bow her spirit arrow flaring, and released.

Only for the arrow to dissipate under the interference of another spiritually charged missile. "Don't forget…who taught you that trick…Deichi-sama." Leaning heavily on the tree behind her Kagome had her bow raised, energy still crackling around her, gaze fixed on the elder completely defying the arrow protruding from her and the blood soaking her front. In an instant Inuyasha was at her side, one arm coming around to support her weight.

"What are you doing?" he hissed in her ear, eyes still locked on the enemy.

"Saving…you" Kagome's voice was weak but clearly her stubbornness hadn't faded. "In her left hand…a jewel"

For a moment Inuyasha had that 'I'm an idiot, duh' face then smirked. "Why didn't you just say so?" She rolled her eyes, elbowing him lightly as she fought to breathe, and control her raging energies. Feeling the struggle Inuyasha moved his supporting hand from her arm around her waist, pulling her to his chest. "Don't over do it."

Both spirit arrow and tetsagai were directed at Lady Deichi, she in turn had her own arrow pointed at the two of them. It was futile she knew, the power her opponents possessed individually was formidable the power of the two combined was terrifying. She watched as the pure aura of a miko mixed with the demonic aura of a hanyou, each strengthening the other, lending and taking power in equal measure. Wickedly the old miko's lips curved upward as she watched the two interact. They are unaware of the connection.

Kagome and Inuyasha focused silently, building up for the attack. They never got the chance to finish it, "I see you are not as capable as I though you to be Deichi-sama." The cold tones froze the three in the clearing. "Now Kagome, you wouldn't want to miss your own party would you? Wasting time with this thing when your friends are all waiting, tch tch, where are your manors?" The white baboon stepped out from the trees.

"Naraku" cursed Inuyasha, turning tetsagia on the baboon.

Only slightly calmer than Inuyasha Kagome had the precious of mind to ask, "What do you mean, 'my friends are waiting', have you taken them somewhere?" Inuyasha's growled curses that weren't entirely under his breath, his tension was catching, Kagome's anxiety increased with every growl, and the pain in her chest with it.

As if reading her mind Naraku eyed the arrow, "You really should take that out, it must be painful." His lips curled up in the mockery of a pleased smile, bloodlust shown in his eyes. "Let me help you with that." Before anyone could so much as blink a coarse tentacle shot out toward Kagome plucking her from Inuyasha's grip. Tetsagia ripped through the tentacle holding her at the same moment that Kagome released a spirit arrow, the detached appendage disintegrated, and Kagome dropped to the ground. Another tentacle rushed towards her scooping her up with ease she struggled to keep a hold of her bow. The wood snapped as yet another tentacle lashed out, getting both the bow and Inuyasha with one sweep.

"Damnit" There's too many, he keeps regenerating and I can't use the windscar without hurting Kagome. Damnit gotta get to 'er. Choppy thoughts filled Inuyasha's brain with conflicting messages as he slashed through Naraku's extra limbs. A pained scream drew his and his sword's attention, "Kagome!" he struck out at the nest of black tentacles separating them. He could see through the bramble the cause of Kagome's cries; the arrow had been removed fresh blood joining the blotches already covering her.

"Hurry now Inuyasha we wouldn't want you to miss the show." Naraku's cruel laugh filled the clearing as the tentacles receded. All trace of Naraku, Lady Deichi and Kagome disappeared abruptly. Tetsagai turned red for an instant cutting through the air and tearing through Naraku's barrier, but Naraku had his head start and that was all he'd wanted.

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Shippou had always hated silence, even more so since his brief time as an orphan maybe that was why he had fought so hard to stay with Inuyasha and Kagome, with them things were always interesting, never a moment of silence, even when they were quiet. When they were around the air resonated with life, but here, wherever here was, did not, and they weren't with him.

Fighting against the whimper trying to escape his lips Shippou curled himself tightly into a ball, making his already tiny body into a minuscule structure. He couldn't hear anything, his acute demon hearing only emphasizing that silence. Around him he could feel the presence of other captives, Shippou assumed Sango and Miroku were among them, but he had no way to tell, his eyes unable to penetrate the darkness and nose so confused and full of the stench of blood he couldn't smell anything else. Instead of seeking what was familiar for comfort as he would have Shippou sought himself and the relief of unconsciousness, but his mind was too a buzz for sleep.

If for only the noise it made Shippou let out the whimper he'd been holding, "oka". As if summoned by the small sound a shaft of light broke through the darkness, silhouetting an all too familiar figure. This is really really bad.

"Time for the show."

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AN/ I know another cliff-hanger and a short one at that but when coming to the end its sort of necessary, three more chapters people.