Chapter 19

When Kagome awoke she was surprised. It was the first time in a while that she had not woken with a feeling of promise. Like something wonderful could happen. In fact, it was quite the opposite. There was a feeling of dread that she could not shake. When the girl opened her eyes, she remembered why.

She had been kidnapped. They had actually come into the palace and taken her. Kagome shook her head. She pitied the people behind it, she really did. Sesshomaru was going to have a field day with them.

The room she was in said nothing of where she was. It was damp and dark. She was lying on a mattress in what had to be a dungeon with one ankle shackled to a three foot chain and attached to the wall.

Kagome could feel a sort of power emanating from the shackle and she prodded it with her powers. It was youki, but not. There was something entwined with it to keep her from purifying it off.

"You may as well give that up, little cousin." a sickly smooth voice echoed from across the room. "No amount of spiritual powers will get you out of that."

The miko looked up and into the crimson eyes of her cousin. "Naraku." she spat. "How wonderful to see you after all this time. You never write."

The hanyou smirked. "Still so fiery." he said. "We shall soon cure you of that."

"I do hope my future husband finds his sense of humor before he comes to kill you." Kagome continued. "If not, your death will be very painful."

Naraku laughed. "Silly fool. Your white prince will not being rescuing you. This place does not occupy the space that he is in. One might say it is in a different dimension. No matter how keen that dog's nose is, he will not find you."

"He might surprise you." Kagome insisted.

"Or he might surprise you, instead. Tell me, even if he does manage to find you, how much of the West's money, energy, and forces will he have to use to do so? Okudo has resources that your prince only dreams about."

"Okudo?" the miko was shocked. The elder of the inuyoukai council was behind this? She knew that he didn't like her, but this was ridiculous.

"The very same. You would be surprised how much he hates you. So much that he has lent me all of his power just to keep you and Sesshomaru from uniting. That includes criminals that he uses while they atone for their crimes. Or for the crimes of their family like the two I sent after you. My personal favorite is the artist who brings his demons to life. Imagine it Kagome. Endless armies that can simply be redrawn to face your love and his puny guard. The West will never allow him to continue to risk innocent lives just to save a little human girl. What do you think he'll do then?"

He laughed at the girl's expression and headed towards the door. "Don't worry. I don't intend for you to have to face that. I'll have killed you long before Sesshomaru ever has to make that decision."

The heavy door banged shut and was locked, leaving Kagome alone with her thoughts. Sesshomaru would come for her. She knew he would. Wouldn't he?

Inuyasha had not signed up for this. Keeping his distance from women (or rather them keeping their distance from him) had made it so he was not used to their mannerisms. Surely they didn't all cry so much. But that is what Kikyo had been doing since they had found out Kagome was missing the day before.

The hanyou was doing his best to comfort her, but he just wasn't good at that kinda thing. Finally he gave up and decided to do what he did best. "Stop it." he ordered. "Stop crying."

Kikyo looked up with a scowl on her face. "Inuyasha, my sister-"

"Is gone. Yeah. I know. Crying ain't gonna bring her back though. You have to do something. We have to go get her."

The problem was, that it was easier said than done. All three of the inuyoukai had combed Kagome's rooms and balcony for a scent or something that would tell them where she had been taken, or who had taken her, but there was nothing. It was as if they had simply vanished into thin air.

Mitsuko and Suteki of the council had arrived and they were livid at the idea that their leader was so corrupt. They immediately offered their help.

"I like Kagome." Mitsuko had said. "She's not just some gem to fit into Sesshomaru's crown. She's so much more."

Having two council members on their side put them on near equal footing with Naraku and Yukami. InuTaisho thought that they would need all the help they could get, especially with Sesshomaru being as unbalanced as he was.

The prince went from angry to miserable in a matter of seconds and he had already made more than a few servants cry. He had taken to spending his time in Kagome's rooms inhaling her scent and hoping that she was okay. That was how Tsubame found him.

"Wow, Sess." she said. "This is bordering on insanity from you. Since when do you let your emotions have control?"

"What would you have me do, Tsubame?" he asked. "It is not as if I can simply go pluck her from wherever she is. I am powerless."

"Oh stop it." his cousin snapped. "Kagome's not dead. Trust me, you'd know if she was with the bond you two have. There is plenty you can do. You know where Yukami lives don't you? And you have evidence that she is involved. Go do something about it! She doesn't know that you know, and wouldn't you just love to knock that bitch down a peg?"

Sesshomaru looked Tsubame in the eye. They had grown up together and only she could get away with speaking to him in that manner. He thought it over. He highly doubted that Yukami meant anything to Naraku and he was willing to bet that she would turn coat and tell him everything if given the right incentive. "Have Inuyasha, Kikyo, Koga, and Sanyen meet me here." he said firmly.

"Right away, your Highness." Tsubame agreed with an affectionately mocking bow. "Oh and I want in on whatever it is you're planning."

The prince gave her the ghost of a smile. "Naturally."

Once they were all assembled in Kagome's sitting room, Sesshomaru laid out his plan. "This is what I want. Inuyasha, Koga, and Tsubame, you will be coming with me to the Southern Lands. Kikyo and Sanyen, set up a room to hold the princess. Prepare to interrogate her in the best way you know how."

He strode from the room expecting them to follow his orders. They did. Inuyasha, Koga, and Tsubame hurried to follow after him. "Uh, I'm all for knocking this bitch down a few pegs, Sesshomaru, but how're we going to get to the South before they do something' to Kagome?"

"As always, there is much you do not know, little brother."

They made their way down to the courtyard…and just stood there. Koga looked around and frowned. "What exactly are we doing here?" he asked, as respectfully as he could.

Sesshomaru said nothing, but closed his eyes, allowing his youki to collect around him. They were all staring at him, wondering if maybe he had gone mad. They were not wondering for long. A cloud of the prince's power billowed under him and them forming a sort of cloud. Slowly the cloud spread and enveloped them in a clear bubble of pure youki.

"Lord Koga, lead the way to the Southern Palace."

"Uh…sure."

Prince Yuri looked up from his paperwork at the knock on his office door. "Come in." he called.

Achiko pushed open the door looking harassed. "Your Highness, there is a visitor."

"Let me guess, someone for Yukami?"

"No, your Highness." Achiko gushed. "It is Prince Sesshomaru from the Western Lands, his brother, Lord Inuyasha, their cousin the Lady Tsubame, and Lord Koga of our guard."

The prince gaped. "Lead them to the receiving room." he ordered finally. "I will be there shortly." Yuri signed one last document and then took a deep breath. He sent a quick prayer to the gods that this would be a smooth meeting. He had never personally met Prince Sesshomaru, but he was known for being a shrewd demon. Perhaps there would be a way to reason with him. After all, this was Yukami's fault, not his.

He strode down the corridor and to the receiving room. Yuri had to admire Sesshomaru's presence. He sat on the guest throne looking regal and collected with his brother and cousin at his back. Koga came forward to bow to him, since he was in his employ, but then retreated to flank the white prince.

"Prince Sesshomaru." Yuri greeted. "Welcome to my kingdom. What is it I can do for you?"

"Prince Yuri." the inuyoukai murmured. "Your palace is lovely. I only regret that I must be here on such an…unhappy mission."

"Unhappy?"

"Yes. Do you not wonder, Prince Yuri, why my fiancée is not here with me? You know, of course, of the danger she is in. So why would I leave without her, and take my Captain of the Guard and yours, along with me?"

"I…is Lady Kagome no longer in your care?" Yuri asked cautiously.

Sesshomaru snorted inwardly. "Surely you know that she was never 'in my care.' Kagome can care for herself more than any other woman I have ever met. No, my lady is not with me, for the simple reason that she has been taken."

Prince Yuri stared in shock. "Taken?" he gasped. "You don't mean…?"

"I assure you, I mean everything I say. I even know who it was that took her." Sesshomaru continued. He flicked an imaginary piece of lint off his shoulder. "I wonder if you do."

Yuri knew that there was no way to protect his sister in this. She had gone too far. To kidnap the intended of the heir to one of the most powerful kingdoms in the world surely meant death. Even if Yukami wasn't directly responsible for the abduction, she had probably known about it. It was obvious that Sesshomaru had proof that Yukami and Naraku were involved, or he would have never come and addressed him so boldly.

The leader of the Southern Lands sighed. "Achiko, bring me my sister. But be discreet about it. Do not tell her we have guests." The servant bowed and hurried to do as he was bid.

Sesshomaru nodded curtly and allowed his face to soften. "You have my thanks for making this easy, Prince Yuri."

"What choice do I have? You know she's involved. I know she's involved. You know I know she's involved. Trying to protect her would as good as make me an accomplice." Yuri sighed again. "This should not have happened. I should have done something when I found out what they were plotting. Now they've taken Kagome, the last person who deserves such a fate."

The inuyoukai said nothing on the matter. He agreed with the prince's words. Instead, he asked a question. "Why are you still called 'Prince' if you rule this kingdom?"

Yuri was taken aback at the change of subject. "The Southern Kingdom is unique in that it allows females to rule. When my father died, he decreed that whichever one of his children was married first would take up the throne and title. Neither Yukami nor myself have fulfilled this decree as of yet. Still, I am the eldest and a male, so I lead under the title of prince."

"That would explain why your sister is so desperate to find a husband."

"No." Yuri corrected. "She could care less about the throne. She has no head for responsibility. Yukami just wants to be married so that she can show off."

Inuyasha, who had been silent up until then, snorted. He could tell that about the wench from the moment he saw her.

Achiko came back moments later, with the princess in tow. Hey eyes widened when she saw Sesshomaru standing there and then she put on a large false smile. "Why Prince Sesshomaru, what a pleasure to see you again."

"Hn." the silver haired male replied. "I cannot say the same." The ice in his voice made everybody wince. "Take her, Inuyasha."

The hanyou nodded and grabbed the princess by the arm.

"Get your hands off me, you disgusting half breed!" Yukami shouted. "Yuri, what is the meaning of this?"

The prince met his sister's eyes. "You messed up, Yukami and I never should have let it continue. Where is Kagome?"

Yukami paled. "How should I know where that bitch is?"

"Because you were plotting with Naraku to do something to her. I heard you, Yukami. Then I alerted Kagome who told Sesshomaru. Now Kagome has been abducted and her betrothed is here. Surely you see how this must end."

The demoness gasped in fury. "You would take that low born wench's side over your own sister's? Father is no doubt rolling in his grave."

"Agreed." Yuri said calmly. "With the way we have been behaving, you are most assuredly correct." he nodded at Inuyasha who drew his sword and rapped the princess on the back of the head with the hilt of it. She slumped in his grip and the hanyou threw her over his shoulder.

"Again, you have my thanks, your Highness." Sesshomaru intoned.

Prince Yuri nodded and watched with tortured eyes as his last remaining family member was carted away.

Kagome had begun to panic just a bit. The day was waning and she seemed to be no closer to being rescued. She had sent her powers out as far as they could go, but had no luck in identifying where she was.

Naraku had said that she was being held somewhere in another dimension. That wasn't possible was it? There were no pockets where space and time were different, were there? Her thoughts were interrupted by the sound of her cell door being opened.

One of her abductors entered carrying a tray of food. It was the one with the cross on his forehead and the long hair. Ban…something or other. He walked warily over to her and bowed. "Some dinner for you, lady."

Kagome scoffed. "Oh so now I'm a lady? Where were these manners when you were throwing me around like a sack of potatoes?"

The man had the decency to look sorry. "I didn't know who you were at the time. Not really. All Jakotsu and I were told was that we were to grab the woman on the balcony."

"You knew my name though." Kagome protested.

"But not your station." Bankotsu set the tray down in front of her. "Look, Jak and I are pretty much slaves to Okudo. When he says do something, we do it, or else. It was nothing personal."

The miko sighed and began to eat the food after using her powers to check it for poison. "Why does he own you?"

Bankotsu frowned. "Why do you want to know?"

"I'm just making conversation." Kagome snapped. "I'm stuck in this hellish place and I'm lonely."

There was a moment of silence, then Bankotsu sat down next to the girl. "Our older brother Mukotsu got caught selling drugs to some nobles that owed their allegiance to Okudo. When he found out that Okudo knew, Mukotsu killed himself. As his only remaining family, Jak and I are serving his sentence."

Kagome gaped at him. "But that's ridiculous. You two didn't do anything!"

Bank laughed humorlessly. "That doesn't matter. Okudo cares only that someone pays for the crime that was done."

It was an easy decision to make really. Kagome didn't have to think about it much. "Sesshomaru is more than likely going to kill Okudo when he comes to rescue me. Then you two will have your freedom."

The man shook his head sadly. "But my lady, he won't come. He will have no way to find you."

"He will if you help me."

A/N: And one more done! I felt so bad for Yuri in this chapter. His sister is going to have to face Sess's wrath. Poor little bitch. Anyway, please let me know what you thought.