Sorry for the long hiatus guys. I recently had a baby and I needed some quality time with him. But I'm back on the show and I appreciate that you guys stuck by me for so long. Enjoy the story! -ZooZebra

Chapter 30

Kagome raced through the woods trying to follow Kagura's demonic aura. She was fleeing quickly, and as the woods began to lighten up, her aura completely vanished. Kagome paused for a moment, and decided Kagura would have continued going straight, if she led her this far out of the wood. She looked down and noticed the soil began to turn to sand. Listening closely, she heard the slight crash of waves.

Stepping out from behind the final tree, she caught sight of a very vast ocean. The sea salt tickled her nose and the ocean spray caressed her cheek, beckoning her forward. The sky was clear, and Kagura was no longer in sight. Stepping to the shore line, she sat on the sad and contemplated hard on Kagura's riddle.

"He is where the sun does not set, the moon does not rise…a cave?" she asked thoughtfully. "No, you can breathe in caves." She took a pebble from beside her and tossed it in frustration towards the waves. They gobbled it up and swallowed it to its deep belly. Suddenly, it occurred to her.

She jumped up and stared hard into the ocean. Looking at it a second time, it seemed eerie. Fog settled towards the horizon, blinding any sailors from the shoreline. The water seemed to turn black and the hairs on her neck prickled with awareness.

"Here," she whispered. "He's here."

She stood at the shoreline and braced herself. The water would be frigid and she could very easily fall into hypothermia. But this was it. She adjusted the bindings of the sword to ensure it was secure, and took a deep breath. She ran towards the water and dived.

The icy smack of the water against her made her almost gulp water in her gasp, but she held her breath tightly and forced her way through the arctic temperatures. She was surprised that the water became deep very quickly and noticed that there was a cave hidden within the depths of the lake. She swam towards it, keeping her senses alert. The darkness grew in the lake and she lost sight of the cave. She felt around with her hands and screamed mentally when a fish tickled her leg. Her chest was tightening and she was beginning to lose track of where she was. She couldn't even tell which way was up anymore

She fought the urge to intake breath as she continued forward, praying that this was the right way. Suddenly her fingers brushed against rock and she found an opening in them. Hoping to the Kami that this cave had an air hole, she pushed herself through. A flickering light above her caught her eye and she swam towards it desperately. The cold was making it harder for her to hold her breath and, despite that she was an amazing swimmer, she feared drowning.

Suddenly she pushed herself through the surface and gasped. Her skin was turning blue and she was quivering in the water. She looked around herself and found a fire next to the water that was causing the light she saw. Kagome paddled towards it and shakily pulled herself out of the water. Peeling off her cold clothing, again, she began to take in her surroundings. The cave was small and stuffy. There wasn't much ventilation but she knew that in order for the fire to be burning, there had to be some place where air was coming through. A tiny little crevice between the rocks caught her attention. She walked up to it and squinted inside. She could fit through it and she felt a breeze coming towards her.

"This must be it," she said to herself. Sitting by the fire, she waiting until she and her clothes dried. As much as she needed to go after Rin, she couldn't risk freezing herself. What good is she to Rin dead? Sighing, she cuddled her knees to her chest and prayed.

Kagura was the one that sent her, which means it was Naraku that had Rin. Kagome had barely any training from Sesshomaru and she was completely alone. How in God's name she was going to save herself and Rin, she had no idea. She just knew that she had to give it her all and rely mostly on her smarts, not her strength. It was painfully obvious that she was no match to Naraku's power. But perhaps there was hope if she could talk her way out, or trick him somehow. What could she use against him, though? She knew nothing that could be used against him. He made sure his enemies knew very little about him.

"I guess I'll just have to improvise," she sighed.

Leaning against the rock behind her, she closed her eyes and took in the warmth of the fire. She allowed it to caress her skin and soothe her soul. Gold eyes flickered in her mind and she reached out with her soul to the owner of those eyes.

"As much as I hate admitting it, I need you. Rin needs you. Where ever you are, hurry," she plead. It could be because she was tired, but she could have sworn she heard a growl rumble through her body, easing her worry. Closing her eyes, she allowed the rumbling to lull her.