Oopsies! I forgot about this story again! Sorry! I always seem to do that, it's completely and utterly horrible! *bows* forgive me! Well... I have two things to say (more or less...) So... yeah... I'm gonna say those two things now...

First of all, I want to say that I changed Nozomi's age from 8 to 14. Frankly she was acting too mature for an 8 year old, so I changed it.

Secondly, I drew a picture of Nozomi and posted it on my Devientart account. So if you get the time, I'd appreciate your comments on it (my penname/username is always the same)

And one other thing, I always use the Japanese names for Inuyasha's Tetsusaiga attacks. (I dunno why...) Like Kaze No Kizu instead of Wind Scar.

Anyway, please enjoy the next chapter and review :-)

Escape:

"I won't change the timeline," said Nozomi firmly, "the timeline is not something to be tampered with! It is a sacred thing and the smallest change could destroy life as we know it! I made a vow that I would never let that happen!"

"So you just watched when I killed hundreds of innocent people," replied Naraku, grinning at Nozomi's shocked face, "yes, I knew you were there, although at the time I didn't know who you were,"

"But you didn't kill me,"

"No, you vanished before I got the chance. And, at the time, I didn't know how you had completely vanished,"

"But you do now,"

"Yes, and now I can control your time travelling as I please,"

"You monster," growled Nozomi, her usually calm brown eyes turning so dark they looked black, "you've been toying with my life! I'm 14 years old!"

"But you take after your mother; you can handle any amount of pressure put on you,"

"Don't talk about my mother. You barely knew her, and only really saw her when she was protecting me!."

"I will talk about whom I please, but, you are in luck. Right now I have to stop Inuyasha and his little gang from entering my castle and attempting to rescue you,"

With one last laugh, Naraku left the room, leaving Nozomi shaking in anger.

oOo

"He's coming," said Inuyasha as he, Sango and Miroku stood just inside the castle, "let's hope we can fight him long enough for Kagome to get Nozomi,"

"We should be able to do that," replied Sango, "maybe we'll even kill him,"

"I hope so," was Inuyasha's blunt reply.

"My, my, my, whose party is it?" said Naraku, appearing in front of the group, "why are you all outside my castle?"

"Where's Nozomi, Naraku!" asked Miroku angrily staring at Naraku.

"Why on earth would I tell you that? She's mine now,"

"LIKE HELL!" Yelled Inuyasha, aiming Tetsusaiga directly at Naraku.

"I don't have time for this," growled Naraku, walking back into his castle, "Kagura! Deal with them!"

As the black haired demon came out of the castle, Naraku turned around and left.

"Not so fast Naraku!" yelled Inuyasha, "KAZE NO KIZU!"

Naraku simply kept walking as the waves harmlessly passed him, skipping his body entirely. Inuyasha growled angrily and glared at Kagura as she raised her arm, preparing to attack.

"I hope Kagome was able to get into the castle," said Sango as the group prepared to fight, "we kept him here as long as possible,"

"She better be in there," was Inuyasha's blunt reply.

oOo

Nozomi sighed in defeat as she slumped against the wall of her prison. She'd been trying to escape, but Naraku had taken every precaution to stop her. "Damn it," she growled, "this is so not fair," Nozomi groaned and she closed her eyes in exasperation, "I can't get out of here by myself!"

"But I can help," replied someone, making Nozomi's eyes snap open.

"Kagome!" she exclaimed, walking forward, "I didn't think you'd come!"

"We couldn't leave you with Naraku," whispered back Kagome who was studying the cell that Nozomi was in, "you're our friend now Nozomi. You let yourself get taken to save me, so I'm going to risk myself to save you,"

Nozomi's smile lit up her entire face, "Thank you," was all she could say.

"Don't worry; I'll have you out of there in no time! Just, stand back,"

Nozomi walked to the back of the cell. Her face was filled with joy. They were helping her! People were actually helping her!

"Ok Nozomi," said Kagome, looking up at Nozomi, "I think you can get out now,"

"How?"

"Attack it,"

Nozomi blinked and simply stared at Kagome in confusion. The last time she attacked the cell to try and get out, it rebounded and knocked her out. After a few seconds she shook her head and stared past Kagome, at the blank wall. Gathering up all her energy, she threw a large, blue ball towards the wall. It stopped as it reached the glass before shattering it into millions of pieces. "Yes!" exclaimed Nozomi in excitement, running over to Kagome.

"Let's get out of here," said Kagome, before she and Nozomi started to run away from the cell.

The path was long and narrow. Several times Kagome had to move in front of Nozomi so they could keep moving. The tunnel kept getting darker and darker until eventually Kagome stopped.

"What's wrong?" asked Nozomi, looking over at Kagome, her green eyes piercing the dark.

"I don't know where to go," replied Kagome.

Nozomi's eyebrows lifted in amusement and she lifted up her head, sniffing the air, "this way," she said, gesturing towards one of the nearby tunnels. Just after she gestured, she realised Kagome couldn't see that well in the dark, so she grabbed the older girl's arm and pulled her in the direction of the tunnel. "We have to hurry," she added as they ran down the tunnel, "Naraku will know that I am gone soon,"

"Yeah," replied Kagome, before they lapsed into silence.

oOo

They had been fighting Kagura for what seemed like hours. She kept avoiding their attacks, barely ever attacking herself, which, as Miroku pointed out at one point, wasn't like her. She was normally fighting in one way or another.

Inuyasha growled as another one of his attacks passed harmlessly by her.

"This isn't working," said Miroku, glancing at the insects that were swarming around Kagura.

"We need a new plan," agreed Sango, her Hiraikotsu being deflected by a gust of wind as it headed towards Kagura.

"We should fall back."

Inuyasha glared at the two out of the corner of his eye, "We can't!" he yelled angrily.

"Inuyasha!" Inuyasha spun around and saw Kagome running towards them at top speed, "We can go now!" she said, still running towards them.

Miroku and Sango nodded, both starting to retreat. Inuyasha stayed firm, he didn't want to leave, not yet.

"Come on Inuyasha!" said Kagome, finally reaching Inuyasha, "We have to go!"

"Not yet," he growled back.

Kagome sighed and stepped backwards, "Come on Inuyasha, we got what we wanted so let's go!"

Inuyasha was reluctant, but he obeyed Kagome and retreated with her.

Kagura lifted her head high as they left, "What is going on?" she asked before turning into the castle, "This is very strange."