Hey guys,

So I'm glad I was able to get an update out sooner than later. I'm super excited about the increased amount of story follows but I was a bit sad about not receiving any reviews. I decided to write a bit more than usual and will continue to do so as long as there is interest in this story. For the next update to come out, I want 5 reviews! As soon as I get 5 reviews, I will try to get the next chapter out within the week. I'm not too sure how long this story will end up being but at this rate, definitely a handful more chapters. I am 100% open to any ideas and/or possible plot twist. I'm hoping to bring in a few familiar faces from Inuyasha.

Sorry about a Kagome-less chapter. If it helps any, she's mentioned a whole lot.

Nonetheless, I do not own Inuyasha or Yu Yu Hakusho.

The Fire That Burned Within:

As Youko moved towards his destination, he expelled all emotions from his being and focused on the facts. Kagome was missing and once found, she would continue to be hunted for the rest of her life. He knew it was time to end the battle against Naraku and her life. This is what he exceled at. He moved at the speed of light, the trees barely moving underneath his weight. Youko was bold, he knew that. Intending to mark a miko was a death wish but he always gets what he wants and this miko, was meant to be his.

His eyes held pure ice as his rage for the dead priestess burned deep. He neither knew the story nor cared. His youki surrounded him as he scanned the area for any demons. He knew none would approach him but he couldn't risk being disturbed. He landed without a sound and made his way into the center of the field, the field where he first saw Kagome.

Kagome.

Youko remained standing and allowed the plants to call to him. His jaw tensed as he focused on his objective. There was a limited amount of time and the amount of information he contained about the situation was drastically limited. For him to be able to save the priestess, he needed to think as her captor. He needed to understand why they would want her and what their end game was. Surely the dead priestess knew of him. Naraku had to have sensed his presence intertwined with Kagome's. Youko sat down softly as his youki spread around him, warning all demons to stay away.

He closed his eyes and pondered what he knew about the half demon, Naraku. It was presumed he was slayed but he has reappeared at full strength. Was he revived or was he in hiding all this time? Why would he chose now to show himself? Kagome contained the full jewel, she was also their greatest threat. With her powers intact, there would be no way they could get the jewel. She'd purify anyone who would dare. Unless of course, she was unable to summon her powers.

Without her powers, she would be rendered useless. She would live a life of failure, misery; which is far worse than death itself. It would be more beneficial to keep her alive and destroy her spirit than free her of her burden. With her as bait, the group will search until she is found to discover her broken and in result, they would lose the battle… all because of their emotions. Youko tried piecing together all the parts of the puzzle but without more information, he knew the possibility of being incorrect was great.

However, he was seldom wrong. If there was anything Youko was good at, it was strategy. Time was of the essence and so he cleared his mind and began what he came here to do; meditate. It was a simple solution, one he knew would tie him straight to Kagome. By targeting her lingering aura within the field and his claim to her, Youko will be able to activate a temporarily stronger bond.

He focused on his breathing, in and out. The noises of the wilderness faded into the background and he felt his energy pulsate within him. He felt the air fill his lunges and exit silently. The air cooled slightly and a musky stench assaulted his senses. He could fill a strain on his wrists which continued to rest upon his knees. He felt a pressure on them that tightened gradually and began to restrict all movement. The cold that kissed his wrists never warmed and remained unforgiving. There was an ache on his shoulder, one that felt fresh and hallow, all at once. He wished to cover it but his wrist would not budge.

A shiver ran up his spine, he opened his eyes and there was no light where he was. The damp ground played tricks on his toes as the chill transferred directly to his bones. It felt as though bugs dug their way out of the ground and onto his ankles. He felt claustrophobic and wondered if there was a way out. He heard a door open and reflexively looked towards the dimly lit staircase. The steps that descended were quiet but heavy; it was a man.

His eyes remained fixated on the only exit with anticipation. He felt recognition, although he'd never seen the man. His pale skin contrasted against the darkness. His ink colored hair was wavy and ran the length down his torso. His eyes were narrow and red as a malicious smile graced his features. He watched him approach and felt his blood run cold. His hand reached outward and as he grasped her chin, both the man and Youko were repelled.

Youko opened his eyes to find himself within the meadow. His hands curled into fist as his claws slightly drew blood. He was able to channel Kagome and develop a bond that could help her survive. It was a long shot but if she could try to channel him in return, she may be able to regenerate some strength. The man that approached her was Naraku, he was sure of it. Her powers continued to pulse as both him and Naraku witnessed. Her ability to remain unaffected by the circumstances were admirable but limited. Although her powers remained firm, something within him felt uneasy. She was hidden away in the dark, her only contact was the half demon.

He wasn't able to locate her exact location but with careful planning and consideration, their bond will strengthen and she'll willingly call to him. He slowly stood and subconsciously rubbed his wrist. It was time to get the full story, whether the mutt is going to speak willingly or not; was not his concern. The dead priestess would need to be taken care of and if Inuyasha proved to be obstacle, Youko will not hesitate to disperse of him.

An image of Kagome flashed within his mind. Her wrist were within chains and her feet barely touching the ground. She was caked in both dried blood and dirt but held a glow to her that left the hairs on his arms standing on end. She looked defeated but when she looked up and towards him, the fire that burned within her cerulean eyes, promised death.

And with that, Youko took off; searching for the camp that held the ones she called her friends.

The walk back to the camp was an awkward one. The bat demon watched Sango closely as she kept her eyes forward, completely ignoring him. It was extremely uncharacteristic of her to let her guard down around a demon, especially one she didn't know. The fatigue from yesterday remained idle in her bones. It felt as though her limbs were made of lead as she continued to make the trek back to her friends. Slight bruises littered her body and she reflectively went to pull her sleeves down to cover them.

It's not like you could see them through her shirt but the purple marks almost felt like her body was betraying her. She knew she wasn't capable of recovering as quickly as demons and she knew her energy has yet to completely return to her but still. Her strength could match that of any demons and the failure of the day before, littered her skin. She let her mind wonder as the sun continued to rise. Her eyebrows etched in concern, she was worried about Kagome. There wasn't a trace of her left after she collided with Naraku. She could feel the anger build in her chest at Inuyasha but she also knew there was shame there too… shame about her own skills and inability to save her.

She knew Naraku loved mind games and that's what worried her most. He'll catch his prey and toy with them until he's no longer interested. Kagome may be a warrior with a strong will but being as pure as she was, she could only withstand so much darkness. If they fail to find her, she may believe her fate has been decided. Sango shook her head, trying to actively erase those dark thoughts. They'll find her, they always find a way to triumph over evil.

Sango peeked over at Kuronue from beneath her bangs. He walked to her left, slightly slower than her and with his arms behind his head. He was looking up into the sky and was whistling some tune she didn't recognize. He seemed so carefree, yet so lethal. His black attire contrasted against his pale skin and his violet eyes were bright with mischief. He had black bands wrapped around his forearms that hugged them when they would contract.

He looked down and caught her eye as she quickly turned back to looking forward. A light blush deceived her and a smirk adorned him. Before he could tease her, they made it back to the deserted village and saw Youko standing in front of Inuyasha. His arms were crossed as Inuyasha held out his sword. It seemed the night had cleared Inuyasha of his guilt and his typical brash self was present.

"The hell you're going to look for her on your own! She's part of our group!"

Inuyasha felt like he was seeing red. The arrogance of this-this kitsune. He has been the sole protector of Kagome for years. He knows her like the back of his hand and if anyone was going to find her, it was going to be him. This fox thinks he can take Naraku but knows nothing about him! He'll fall straight into his trap and then it'll be another headache dealing with that situation.

Youko didn't respond as his ears flickered towards the approaching duo; the only tell that he even acknowledged their presence. He was analyzing the half demon, whether killing him would be beneficial in the long run or not. He knows the demon has some type of relationship with Kagome but how important was that exactly?

Shippou's cry of excitement broke Inuyasha out of his stupor as Shippou launched himself at Sango. Miroku slowly approached as well, giving Sango a grim look as his movements looked less than graceful. They already knew looking for Kagome now would be too much on their bodies.

"Sango! We missed you last night. We were worried you weren't going to come back. Miroku wanted to go look for you but Inuyasha said not to bother, you would be fine!"

Sango just smiled, it was endearing how the little kit worried about her. She looked at Miroku and saw an unreadable emotion within his eyes as he reached out to her. She slowly extended her hand and in a swift moment, he captured her within a hug. His chin rested upon her head as he held her close.

"I was so very worried Sango. With the injuries you sustained last night, I wasn't sure if you had been attacked or too tired to return."

Sango smiled lightly as she untangled herself from Miroku. She stole a quick glance at the bat demon and felt satisfaction when his smirk was wiped off. Although she was surprised Miroku hadn't groped her, she didn't want to test his sincerity.

"I appreciate your concern Miroku but you know I always make it back in one piece."

He nodded in confirmation as he regarded Kuronue with ice. Miroku wouldn't dare challenge him for Sango's honor. He knew the demon exceled in speed and strength but that wasn't the way to Sango's heart. Miroku has been her companion for years and knew that her loyalties would remain within their group and not within an outsider. Glancing at Kuronue once more, he made up his mind to promote an alliance between the two groups. It was the utmost importance to find Kagome and rid Naraku from this world. Miroku glanced at the silver demons, nothing was going to be solved unless they stopped challenging each other. Walking away from the bat demon with Sango in tow, Miroku felt a smile grace his lips.

And Kuronue felt annoyed.

He hasn't felt annoyed in a long time and for the thorn in his side to be the monk holding the demon slayer, he could hardly stand it. His attraction to the slayer was a dangerous one and potentially a temporary one but that doesn't mean he has any desire to be tested by the monk. He knew what he wanted and she was it. From this point on, he had to be careful with his words and gain her trust. It'll be worth it in the end when she is his.

The awkwardness of the camp was almost too much to bare. Between Miroku and Kuronue and Inuyasha and Youko, Sango felt ready to pull her hair out. It is going to be chaotic but it is absolutely necessary for them to work together. Defeating Naraku took every one of their allies last time. Allies, she's not sure will come for assistance. She moved towards Inuyasha, gaining everyone's attention.

"Let's move somewhere more comfortable and talk. We have a lot of ground to cover and Miroku and I still need time to heal. If Naraku is back, we need to contact everyone we know and notify them immediately."

She turned to move, Kirara meowing as she jumped onto her shoulder. She needed to get out of this village, the ground was soaked with blood. Kuronue glided to her left and gave her a sheepish smile as she ignored him.

The next village over was about a 30 minute travel and they welcomed the group wryly. They were only familiar with a few of them. They had a hut for the travelers already and asked the monk for a blessing. Kuronue stayed beside the slayer and the kit as Youko made the trip within the trees. He decided killing the half demon wasn't worth the trouble or the possible complications. As much as he wanted to take off and find Kagome, he knew the importance of understanding his enemy; it could mean life or death.

Youko made sure to focus on the bond he shared with Kagome. Although he dimly felt her emotions, he knew without a doubt, she was suffering. Opting to silence the bond wasn't an option though, in fact he reached out to her so he could try to intercept the burden of what she was feeling. Instead of constant suffering resonating within her, it was being outputted into his core where he would dismantle the negativity more efficiently than she could in her state. It was this bond that he knew was keeping her mind clear and her body alive. She could yell at him all she wants about it but he is definitely going to receive some type of thank you from the miko.

The group gathered into the relatively large hut. The village must think highly of the group if they were to grant a few travelers the luxury of this place. Youko noticed Sango entering with Kuronue in tow, she looked mad and Kuronue looked like he was up to no good. Inuyasha sat at the other side of the hut, his sword between his arms as he got comfortable. Youko decided to remain standing, his arms crossed as he observed everyone.

The taijya lit the pit of firewood in the center of the hut, the warmth engulfing the group as silence fell on them. She knew the story of Naraku was a long one and contemplated how much the two new demons needed to know. The part about Kikyo was a touchy topic but that needed to be discussed. Sango noticed Youko's tail moving back and forth in an agitated manner. According to Kuronue, he's usually a lot more reserved than this but with Kagome missing, he can imagine him being on edge.

Sango couldn't fathom what he was going through. As sketchy as he was, being a notorious thief and all, he valued Kagome in a way she knew Kagome deserved. Kuronue tried explaining the mating process but it still wasn't completely clear. Of course Sango was worried about Kagome and was desperate to find her but according to Kuroune, it was like Youko was missing a part of himself while simultaneously feeling her presence? Sango shook her head, she was still trying to dissect everything he said and she was feeling a headache coming on. Apparently, Youko hopes to channel Kagome through their bond and use that as a guide to find her? It sounded a bit wild to her but if it was a possibility, then she was 100% on board.

Youko was the first to speak up, his voice laced with impatience, "For us to begin finding Kagome, we need to understand who exactly we're dealing with; begin there."

A/N:

I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter! I've been meaning to proof read it and add a little more juice to it. It has been ready for a lot longer than I want to admit. Please read and review! Ideas are welcomed! I hope to bring some guest characters into this fic very soon.