If it seems rushed I apologize. I need more inspiration, plus I really be busy and wanted to upload.

READ AND REVIEW...plz :,(

Chapter 7: Smooth Criminal

"What the hell is going on?" Inuyasha asked.

These interruptions me off, Kagura thought.

"The mutt came to play," Takemaru said.

"What the hell did you say?" Inuyasha said. "You bastard, what are you doing attacking Misaki?"

Takemaru didn't answer. He raised his blade to Inuyasha.

"Move," he said.

Inuyasha guarded Misaki, "Why don't you make me?" he said.

"With pleasure," Takemaru said swinging his blade.

Inuyasha dodged the blow. He swung his blade as well only to have his attack blocked. This action repeated itself between the two of them. Back and forth their blades clashed. Misaki watched in horror. Inuyasha had managed to disarm Takemaru and raised his blade to strike.

"Don't kill him!" Misaki shouted.

Inuyasha turned and looked at her. "He tried to kill you!" he said

Misaki frowned, "I know, but he isn't himself. Somethings wrong with him."

Inuyasha turned to Takemaru. Takemaru did look different. His eyes were void of emotion. His expression was emotionless. Normally, when around Misaki, Takemaru would stare lovingly at her, or act protective of her. Inuyasha questioned who this could really be. It surely couldn't be the one he felt indignation toward.

"Then what do you suggest I do?" he asked, continuing his battle.

Misaki shrugged. What should he do? She surely didn't know, but he couldn't kill him.

"This is really annoying," Kagura hissed, "we'll get into that building by all means. You can make it easier by handing the girl over."

Misaki was silent.

"Fine then," Kagura said, "Kanna you know what to do."

Kanna walked over to Misaki. Misaki stared at her confusingly. Kanna held out her mirror. It glowed. A smirk appeared on Kagura's face.

"What the hell is she doing?" Inuyasha asked.

"She's under our control now," Kagura said.

"What?"

"No," Kanna said.

"What do you mean no?" Kagura growled.

"She's protected herself with a spiritual barrier. I can't penetrate it."

This girl, Kagura thought.

"I'll retreat the girl," Kanna said.

Kagura smirked, "good, Kanna," she said.

Kanna began to walk toward the castle.

"Oh no you don't," Misaki said, running in front of Kanna.

The child took another step and disappeared.

Misaki gasped. Where'd she go, she thought.

Kagura chuckled. "She's ours now," Kagura said, flying upward.

Misaki quickly turned on her heel. She ran up the many steps, leaving Inuyasha and Takemaru to their duel. She ran as fast as she could. She was out of breath, but that didn't stop her once she reached the top of the stairs. She quickly made her way into the castle. She ran through every room. Checking them. She could not find the pale child.

I have to make sure she didn't get Rin, Misaki thought.

She spotted the room where Rin resided. Her guard still stood outside. She stopped in front of the door.

"Is she still in there?" Misaki asked him.

The guard raised his brow. He wondered why his princess carried such a worried expression.

"Yes, ma-am," he said.

"Can you check?"

"Sure thing," he said.

He slid open the door. Misaki peered inside. Rin was asleep next to her mother and brother. Misaki sighed.

She turned to the guard, "I want you to guard them from the inside."

"Yes, but why ma-am?"

"Just do it," she said, "you can't protect her from out here. I'll be back."

She ran off. She ran up a flight of stairs, making her way to her room. Hearing heavy breathing and foot steps, Bankotsu slid open the bedroom door. He saw Misaki outside of the door sweating and panting.

"What's up?" he asked.

"The enemy is inside," she said through breaths.

Her gaze went past Bankotsu to her child, who was silently playing on the bed mat. Her maiden wasn't in sight.

"Where's Aseka?" Misaki asked.

"Who?" Bankotsu asked. "The girl? Well she went to get food for Momiji."

"Alright," Misaki said. "I was..."

Her words were forgotten when she saw the pale girl appeared. The girl appeared behind her child. Momiji stood up and looked at the girl. The girl's mirror glowed and Misaki caught Momiji's reflection in it. Bankotsu noticed Misaki's look of horror and turned to see what she was looking at.

Everything was happening so fast. Momiji moved closer to Kanna. Misaki pushed past Bankotsu, but was too late. Momiji took Kanna's hand and the two took one step and disappeared. Misaki fell to her knees. How could this happen? Her daughter was in the enemy's hand.

She turned to look at Bankotsu. Their eyes met and they both saw a reflection of their emotions. Utter shock, and sadness. What was to become of their child now? Misaki hunched over and placed her hands on the ground. She wanted to scream. She wanted to cry. But she couldn't because she had to stay strong. Her body quivered as she fought back tears.

Bankotsu bent down and wrapped his arm around her. He couldn't imagine what she was going through at the moment. Yes, Momiji's his child too, but he didn't have the moments, memories, or time Misaki had with her. Then again Misaki couldn't understand how he felt. A new found child just snatched away before he had a chance.

He furrowed his brows. He couldn't let this happen.

"How..." Misaki said.

"I'll get her back," Bankotsu said confidently.

She looked at him, waiting for further information.

"They'll be taking her back to Yuni. I'll go there. They'll realize she's not it and may bring her back anyway."

Misaki looked at the ground, "I'm coming too," she said.

"Nah. You have to guard Rin. They may return."

Misaki considered this. "Yes...you're right."

She stood up. She took a few deep breaths before turning to the door. Before she could walk to the door Bankotsu gripped her wrist. She turned to look at him.

"Do you believe in me?" he asked.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you believe I can do it?"

She was silent for a moment. "I don't know. I didn't even know that this would happen. I just...please just bring her back," she said.

He tugged on her arm and pulled her into a hug. He tightened his grip on her, putting his head a top of hers.

"Misaki, I'm going to get her back. I can't have Momijiin her hands."

Inuyasha was out of breath. Takemaru wouldn't let up. Why was he still under this spell? The female demons left some time ago. Inuyasha studied Takemaru. He too was becoming tired.

When will he let up? Inuyasha thought. Am I going to have to fight him all night?

Takemaru came running toward Inuyasha. He jumped up and swung his blade. Inuyasha whipped Tesaiga in front of him, blocking the attack. Inuyasha pushed back on Takemaru's blade causing him to lose balance. Inuyasha swung the side of Tesaiga toward Takemaru's head, hitting it, and causing him to fly off the stairs into nearby trees.

Inuyasha ran over to where Takemaru now laid. He viewd him. Takemaru was unconcious. Inuyasha sighed. He bent down and checked his pulse.

Still alive, he thought.

"What in the hell! This isn't the right child. Did you two forget to check your detectors? Are you two really that stupid?" Yuni growled.

Veins were popping out her head. Her breath was heavy. Her heart rate had gone up and she was seeing red. She had no clue who the child was that was in front of her.

"This child was being guarded by Bankotsu," Kagura said.

Yuni's heart jumped.

"Kanna thought that must have meant this girl carried the jewel."

"So, Bankotsu was protecting this girl?" Yuni said.

She glared at the child. Momiji was seated in front of her; teary eyed and scared. Yuni wanted to kill her. Kill her for being near her Bankotsu, being in his protection.

"I guess it's true..." Kagura started.

"What?"

"That he and the girl, Misaki, are very fond of each other. He really did know her. Just as you feared."

Yuni balled her fist. "Shut up," she hissed.

Kagura grinned. Did I hit a nerve? she thought

"We could easily go look for the girl again, but what are you going to do with this one?"

"You idiot, don't you think she would hide the girl again?" Yuni said. "We'll use this child," she pointed to Momiji, "and force the other child out of her."

Inuyasha groaned as he tried to walk into the castle. The barrier was making him sick. Not only that but it was burning his skin. He took a step back.

I won't be able to get inside as long as this barrier is up, he thought.

"Misaki!" he yelled.

Would she even hear me?

Misaki soon came walking out of the castle.

"You heard me?" he asked.

Misaki shook her head. "I came out here to take down the barrier," she said.

"I saw them with the girl," he said., "they took off with her."

Misaki shook her head again. "No. They got the wrong girl."

"The wrong girl? Misaki what the hell are you saying?"

She looked at him and flatly said, "they have my child."

Inuyasha's blood boiled. "They what?"

"They have Momiji," her voice cracked.

"No! We have to go get her back," he turned on his heel.

"Bankotsu is on it," she said before he could run off.

"Bankotsu?"

"The bandit that attacked here."

He faced her, "What?" he growled.

"Don't get upset. You've met him years ago in the old village."

"I knew he looked familar."

"He's her father."

Inuyasha's eyes widened. He didn't understand. Why did he attack here before and where was he for the past two years? Inuyasha wanted answers but he knew now wasn't the time.

"He knows where she's at?" he asked.

Misaki nodded, "he was in control of the demon who's searching for Rin."

"Look, I don't understand any of this," he said. "Let's just get Momiji back."

"Bankotsu is on his way there. I have no idea where she could be, so I don't have much of a choice but to wait."

"Do you really just plan on waiting around?" he asked, she was silent.

She move toward the stairs and sat down. She didn't just want to sit around. She wanted to be out searching for her daughter. Searching any and every where. But how could she leave Rin? Rin was dear to her too. The demons could possibly return, and take her.

I'm counting on you Bankotsu, she thought.

Inuyasha sighed and took a seat behind Misaki. His arms were folded and he carried a frown. Misaki looked at him and rolled her eyes.

Fifteen minutes had passed, but to Misaki it felt like an eternity. She sent Inuyasha to guard Rin minutes ago. Now she was alone, glassy eyed with a dripping nose. She furiously wiped her eyes, cursing under her breath.

The night was breezy. The sound of ruffling leaves and crickets filled the air. Misaki looked up. The moon was full. The moon was always full on her bad nights. She glared at it.

Black clouds began to hover over the moon. The clouds started to spiral together. Misaki watched them, wide eyed, spin and spin. The clouds spun into circle. The circle stretched out and formed waves. Misaki stood up and squinted her eyes.

She tried to make out the weird shape the clouds took. There was a tail and wings and eyes. Glowing red eyes.

A dragon? she thought.

The figure then shifted into another form. A form of a person. A woman. And she held something in her hand. A child? Misaki's eyes widened. It was Momiji.

"Momiji!" she hollered.

The woman hovered lower. She looked familiar, but Misaki swore she never encountered her before. Misaki looked at Momiji. She was unconscious. Rage ran through Misaki.

"Give her back," she screamed.

The woman smirked. "You want her back?"

"That's what I said."

The woman frowned now, "then give me the other child," she said. "Hand over the girl with my jewel."

"What?"

"You heard me. The only way you will get this child back is if you hand over the other."

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