Summary: With everything said and done, and the jewel supposedly gone, Kagome returns back to the modern era. Things are far from peaceful as she's taken and turned into a prize for winning in the Dark Tournament. Among her frustrations, she's surprised to realize that one of the competitors is no other than her cousin, Yusuke!

Pairing: Undecided.

Disclaimer: I do not own either series. Each belongs to their rightful owners.

Note:
Flashbacks/Past are written in bulk Italics.
Any OOCness is intended.

Chapter One

"Oh no! How did this happen?!" Koenma's voice was full of panic and he shook his head. "No no, never mind that! How could this of happened in the first place?!"

Boton jumped upon hearing the shout from the figure at his desk, and she cautiously glanced over her shoulder. Bubblegum eyes landed on the nervous form of Koenma, and she tilted her head to the side with a frown on her face. Seeing him like that made her just as nervous. "What happened?" she asked, unsure what could cause such a reaction from him so suddenly. However, she couldn't shake the foreboding feeling that formed within her chest as she stood there waiting.

After a few seconds, Koenma turned his attention to her, wringing his hands together in apparent unease and shaking his head. "She's been taken."

Boton arched a brow and tilted her head to the side in confusion. Though he had given her an answer, it was no sort of answer at all! "Uhh… Who are you talking about, Sir?"

He sighed and stood up. "Who else?" Koenma bit out, "Lady Kagome! She's been taken!"

The name was very familiar to her, and realization dawned on her instantly. Suddenly, she understood very well his unease and anxious behavior over such a thing. She froze in place, a chill of panic racing down her spine at the information. She stumbled back a step, fear seeping into bubblegum eyes. The fear she felt didn't fade as she finally found her voice again. "Y-You mean S-Sesshoumaru-sama's…. -!"

He nodded in response, expression grim. "Yes, her."

The last thing he needed was for the information to get back to the frightening demon lord himself, but he had a foreboding feeling that he'd know much sooner than anyone desired. When that came about…

Koenma shuddered.

"It'll be a bloodbath."

Boton looked at him with widened eyes. "Who took her?" she asked. She knew that it couldn't be for good reasons.

"It seems she's being offered up as a prize for the victor of the Dark Tournament," he responded.

Boton gasped. "They can't just do that!" she argued. "They're idiots if they think Sesshoumaru-sama will relent to allow that to happen to her." She could already imagine the violence that was sure to ensue the moment he became aware of the missing priestess.

"Oh, sure," Koenma agreed easily. "The trouble falls on us, however," he added. "We were tasked with making sure she was safe to live a normal life. So many still assume she's in possession of the jewel, or that it must somehow be a part of her body once more. That must be the reason for taking her despite all the risks."

"Well, Yusuke and the others were just tasked with competing," Boton reminded him of the prior situation at hand. Koenma flinched at the reminder, and the action didn't do anything to appease any of her own unease.

"That's the other thing," he grumbled as he rubbed his head anxiously. "It just so happens that the two of them are family." Imagining the headache Yusuke would give over this was nerve-racking. There was no preferable outcome on either side of the coin here.

"Seriously?" Boton asked, eyes widening in surprise.

He nodded. "Which is why I need you to relay this information to Yusuke," he said. Instantly, Boton reeled back with fear entering her bubblegum eyes.

Why did it have to be her!?

Boton felt more doom and gloom swell up inside her chest as she anticipated the gruff boy's response to the news, and she pondered her options at this point. Was it pertinent to tell him? Surely, he'd figure it out sooner or later…

Oh, what was she even thinking?! If she didn't tell him, and he found out later….- it'd be twice as worse! It'd be better for them to tell him now than for him to find out later and know they'd held it back.

Boton sighed and nodded. "R-Right," she responded. "I'll pass it on."

Hopefully he wouldn't bite her head off in the aftermath.

The pain in her head finally caused her to stir. With a grimace of pain, dark lashes fluttered open to give way to brilliant sapphire eyes. The room around her spun as she pushed herself up onto her knees. A bed creaked beneath her as she moved, and the sound of a heavy chain clanking stole her attention.

There was one chain hooked to her left ankle, the other end of it was pulled through the metal slot of the bed frame. She moved a bit, and she was able to see it fixed tightly to a hook within the concrete flooring. She frowned and tried to grip it with her hand, but, the moment she touched it, it burned the flesh of her palm. She reeled her hand back with a sharp hiss. When she looked at her palm, the burns were harsh and painful. There was no sign of the healing that would normally occur. Unease gnawed at the pit of her stomach as she lifted her attention to her surroundings.

The walls surrounding her were small and a smoky gray color. There was a single window on the furthest wall, but with the chain holding her down, she couldn't get even halfway across the small room to reach it. She could see the blue sky and just a glimpse of greenery from where she was.

She took a breath and tried to summon her energy to the surface, but nothing happened. She tried again, to no avail. It was then that the foreboding feeling within her chest grew louder.

There were wards in place around the confines of this room that prevented her from using her spiritual energy at all. That was why her burns wouldn't heal. She couldn't even call it to the surface. It was all suppressed inside her.

She felt anger boiling up inside her, and she attempted to stand from the uncomfortable bed. The chain rattled loudly as it hit the metal bedframe and got dragged along the floor and bed. She stood up, but she could take no more than five steps away from where she'd been placed. When she tried to take a sixth step, she nearly fell forward.

Kagome stood there for a few seconds, trying to map out just where she was, to no avail. Her senses didn't even work properly here due to whatever wards they had put up around her.

The sound of a lock getting undone came from the outside of the room, and Kagome picked her head to watch the door. Of course, it was locked from the outside.

It was only a few seconds later when it opened fully. In walked a tall man dressed in a dark suit. He had long raven hair that was left free to fall down his back. It was mostly slicked back, with a few bangs out of place over the left side of his face. His eyes were a deep blue, much darker than her own bright eyes. The most interesting thing about his appearance was the long, thin scar that ran down the right side of his face, stretching from just below his hairline to his jaw. Despite the flaw marking his skin, he was handsome. Though, looking at him, something about him rubbed her the wrong way instantly. Even without her powers, she knew he was far from a good person.

"Oh, look at that," he mused with a casual tone- as if he wasn't speaking to someone chained to the floor. "About time you woke up. That mist must've really done a number on you, hm? I've wondered how it'd work on someone like you."

Kagome met his calm expression with a glare. "Who are you?" She demanded an answer. It was phrased like a question, sure, but he picked up on the underlying tone she spoke with. She wasn't as amused as he was by this, it seemed.

"You may call me Sakyo," he responded. It wouldn't hurt anything to give her the information she wanted. "Pleasure to meet you, Kagome."

"I wish I could say the same thing," Kagome responded through gritted teeth. "Why do you have me chained up like this?" she asked then. She tightened her hands into taut fists at her sides. "Scratch that," she amended seconds later. "What do you want from me?!"

"It fairly obvious if you ask me," he responded. Despite her anger, his tone never shifted from casual and light-hearted. "It hasn't been all that long for you, so surely you recall the Shikon no Tama, yes?" he hummed.

Realization dawned on her, whether it was the right kind or not, and she nodded.

"Of course I do," she responded. "What about it?" she asked. She sounded hesitant, and she wasn't sure if she wanted the honest answer anymore. Whenever the jewel was involved, it was never good.

"There are so many people who'd offer a limb up for such a thing," Sakyo said as he dug something out from his pocket. She watched him, and she realized it was just a pack of cigarettes. He removed one and held it between his pointer and middle finger as he casually put the pack back in his pocket. He said it so casually as if that were nothing at all. "Some would kill others for it, no matter who it was they had to sacrifice." He looked directly at her, and she backtracked a step. The chain around her ankle was loud as it clanked and clattered. "Yet, someone like you possesses the power of it."

She shook her head to deny the accusation. "I don't have the Shikon no Tama anymore!" Kagome argued, unable to keep her voice from rising in her anger. "It's gone! I got rid of it!"

"It's physical form, maybe, sure," Sakyo responded as he pulled his lighter out from his pocket next. The sound of a spark was heard as he lit his cigarette. "That doesn't erase that it's still a part of you."

"That's not true…-!" Kagome denied the possibility entirely. She didn't even want to think such a thing was possible. "Even if it was, the jewel was always a separate entity from me. I can't call it back, even if it wanted to."

Sakyo eyed her for a moment before he chuckled. "Even so, what they don't know won't hurt them, now will it?" he questioned.

"Huh?"

Kagome was confused, and it must've shown on her face. He chuckled. "That wide-eyed look of yours really makes you look innocent. If you weren't so dangerous, it'd be adorable." He paused and looked at her closer. "Well, even with how dangerous you can be, I suppose it still works."

She ignored the comment and narrowed her eyes at him. "If you don't care if I have the jewel or not, then why don't you get them to let me go?" Kagome questioned.

"Well…" He looked at her as he took a long drag off his cigarette. The smoke polluted the air with a noxious scent. "Where's the fun in that?" he mused. His tone was one of curiosity, and Kagome felt her frown deepen. If not for her trapped position, she'd move even further away from this man. "Listen, I'll be kind and explain it to you clearly," he stated. "With or without the jewel, you're something highly sought after. The reasons might not be the best for you, but that doesn't change anything. You, with your power, make for an enticing prize."

"... prize?" Kagome repeated the word, and Sakyo nodded.

"You've been offered up as a prize to the winner of the Dark Tournament."

Kagome was silent, not liking the sound of his words. She wasn't even able to tell if he was lying, or if what he said was the truth. She knew asking wouldn't help her discern it any better, either.

"I had you tracked down," he admitted with a hum. "I could've just kept you for myself, but I figured the wager of a miko as a pet would spice the betting pool up a bit," he added. Kagome whipped her gaze up to glare at his face. "If I lose, then the winners deserve the prize."

"You can't just do that," Kagome argued. "There's no way I'm just gonna do what I'm asked and demanded."

"I can, and I have," Sakyo responded coldly. "If you can refrain from outbursts, then you'll be permitted to join me and observe the fights. There's something about you that is likable, to tell the truth. You'll be handed over to one of the competitors, after all, and if it won't be me then I can't guarantee what will happen to you in the aftermath. It would be cruel to keep such a pretty bird caged like this," he added. "Don't you think, little bluebird?"

His tone was cold. She could tell that he didn't care either way. That'd he'd be just as content with keeping her locked up just like this until that day came. Kagome narrowed her eyes as she scowled at him. At her anger, he merely smiled. He looked to enjoy her own discomfort at it all.

"..." She glared at him as she swallowed her pride. "Fine," she bit out harshly. If playing nice was all it took to escape the confines that blocked her senses and suppressed her spiritual energy, then so be it.

She'd play as nicely as she had to.

The bluenette stood nervously in front of the loud-mouthed teenager. He leaned against the wall behind him, waiting for her to spill the information she had.

"Oi," Yusuke snapped, and Boton jumped, backing up some. "Come on already, tell me what's up if it's so damn important."

"O-Okay!" Boton responded. She took a breath and sighed, wringing her hands together beneath her kimono sleeves. B-By chance, do you have a cousin named Kagome?" she asked. At her question, Yusuke tilted his head to the side.

"Yeah?" he responded, his answer more of a question. "What about her? Something wrong?" The mention of his cousin made him move from where he leaned against the wall. His hands were taut fists at his side, ready to jump into action the moment he knew he needed to.

Boton took a step back to put more space between them as she continued nervously. "U-Um, well… you see…" she stammered a bit, trying to get the words out in the best possible way. "You're aware of the Dark Tournament, right?" she asked. It was a rhetorical question, seeing as he was already set to participate in said tourney. "Well, it seems that she's been abducted and is being offered up as a prize!" she forced out quickly, squeezing her eyes shut in preparation for his impending outburst.

When silence answered her, she nervously opened one eye to look at the boy opposite of her. When she did, she saw that he was still processing the information. The silence was nerve-wracking, but he soon broke it.

"The hell could they possibly want with her?!" Yusuke shouted. "Isn't there something that stupid toddler can do about this?!"

Boton shook her head. "It's not that simple!" she defended, but he ignored it.

"The hell it's not!" he fired back at her. "Why'd they even go for her in the first damn place?!"

"He would've done so by now if he could. We have just as much at stake as you do, you know," Boton responded. "Kagome is a very… prominent figure to some very important demons. Oh… I just know this isn't the way she wanted you to know about all this, but that's beside the point," Boton continued. "Lord Koenma would've fixed this by now if he was able."

"Know about what?" Yusuke asked. Boton looked down at her feet. She felt guilty about sharing the girl's secrets, even if it was with her own family.

"It's not my business to tell," she stated. "Just… Kagome is a miko, and she's a very highly ranked one, at that." Yusuke looked at her as she explained. "Because of that, and because of how strong she is, a lot of people want that power for themselves."

It wasn't a lot, but it was enough for him to wrap his head around. He tightened his hands back into fists, anger radiating through him. Boton was silent as he turned and paced back to the wall. "What's gonna happen if we don't win this thing?" he asked. "To Kagome."

"W-Well," Boton stammered nervously, "s-she'll be given to the team that does win." The words were heavy as she said them. She looked down, a frown on her face. "From there, there's no telling what might happen."

It was the answer he'd been expecting, but it was the one that he hadn't wanted to hear, as well. He was already competing, so he'd just win and keep something like that from happening but…-

"Damnit!" he exclaimed as he hit the wall.

There was no telling if she was safe or anything.

"Just hang on Kagome," he pleaded quietly.

There was no way in hell that he'd let her get handed over as some prize. It didn't matter who he had to take down.

It wasn't like her.

Kun-Loon couldn't help but wonder if one of her demon companions had come to get her so abruptly, but she knew that if that were the case, then she would've still come home to let her know first before going anywhere. It had been three days now with no sign or word from Kagome, and nothing had eased her concern any.

She had confidence that Kagome could take care of herself, no matter the situation, but it just wasn't like her to not let her know first.

She sighed and set the kettle to the side as she finished fixing a cup of tea. It was late, and she was waiting up yet again as she waited for any sign from the raven-haired girl. A knock on the door captured her attention, and she abandoned her tea as she hurried over.

It was too late for it to be a normal visitor, so it must've been one of Kagome's companions, surely.

When she opened the door, she looked up at the figure on the other side. His eyes were molten gold, and he had long silver hair. It wasn't the half-demon companion of Kagome, but he certainly bore similarities to him. She knew enough from Kagome's descriptions to know who he was. It was Sesshoumaru, Inuyasha's half-brother. She was about to speak when he beat her to it.

"She's not here, is she?" he questioned in an icy voice. Kun-Loon shook her head, heart hammering in her chest.

"N-No," she responded. His scowl deepened, ire seeping into chilling gold.

There was no trace of her energy or scent to track anymore. Nothing was fresh, and there was nothing to go on. His chest rumbled in a low growl.

"It's been three days since she's been home," Kun-Loon informed. "I was hopeful that one of you had her with you for some reason, but, if that's not the case then…" Her daughter was strong, but knowing that did nothing to ease the worry she felt for her safety.

He gave no response other than a nod as he turned. He understood her words. Searching here would have no results. Red seeped into the whites of his eyes, but he held his rage back. "I'll see to it that she's found safely," he stated as he walked off.

Kun-Loon could only nod. She knew he'd do as he said, but still… If she wasn't with them, then where could she be?

Sesshoumaru stalked down the stairs, rage brewing within him.

They'd been tasked with her safety of a normal life, just as she wanted in the aftermath of her fighting, and they'd failed. Once more, red began to seep into the whites of his eyes as his rage grew.

They'd better have an answer for this problem, and they'd be lucky if it didn't end with their bloodshed.

Auroua-chan: I've been meaning to get this updated since forever. I added a bit to this chapter before I decided to call it. Sorry for the long delay! The next chapter will go up at a more prompt time.

Kagome is awake, and she's not too happy with being a prize. Sakyo is unpredictable, and Kagome can't exactly read him right now. He is responsible for her being offered up as a prize, however. More interactions between them will come.

Sesshoumaru is angry about the situation of Kagome missing. She's someone special to him, but just what, will be revealed later.

For the pairing, I'm more partial to x-over pairs. Kurama, Hiei, or even Jin are all great options! Kurama is a favorite of mine, so I'm more biased toward him, personally haha. I haven't decided anything, yet, though, so anyone is still an option.

Anyway, that's it for now! Thank you all for reading, and I hope you all enjoyed. Hopefully I caught all the errors before posting. If not, sorry!

Please remember to Review&Favorite&Follow, thank you!

Bye for now~