I don’t own anything…

Kousagi-chan:  Ya…it ran a little short…I will try to make this chapter longer…

Flambeau Willow: I’m afraid it’s not a dream…

Desert Wolf: Naraku plays video games.  ’’’ I can’t promise anything about Kagome…but her protector will soon come…

This chapter…Kagome escapes and Sesshoumaru gets an ear full!

Escape!

            The Miko, Kagome, was left unconscious, only to await the claws of Inuyasha.  The hanyou’s eyes gleamed with rabid delight.  His vengeance would soon be complete.  All of a sudden, there was a blast of blue fire.  The attack hit Inuyasha square in the side.  The crazed hanyou howled in pain.  A kitsune demon stepped into plain view of his enemy.  “You have caused much grief, hanyou. Leave this Miko and be gone.”  Inuyasha looked up and snarled.  “She’s mine.”  The kitsune lifted an eyebrow, “If she were yours, than you would not have destroyed her village.”  With that, the kitsune gently picked up Kagome’s body and disappeared.  Inuyasha’s howl of retribution went long and loud into the sky.

Somewhere safe…

            ‘Inuyasha! NO!’ Kagome mentally screamed out in the darkness of her mind.  The Miko had been out all night and soon, dawn would break.  Kagome stirred even as she felt three pairs of eyes on her.  The Miko woke and suddenly was in a panic.  “Be calm, Miko. We aim not to harm you but to aid you.”  Kagome looked around the cave to see a female kitsune and a rather familiar kit.  “Kagome! Are you alright?”  Kagome smiled faintly and hugged her little companion of yore. 

“I am Gaho and this is my mate, Kin,” the male kitsune demon said.  Kagome nodded towards the two kitsune.  “So you are the one who saved me from…” Gaho nodded.  “You must leave when the sun reaches its zenith for you are still tracked by the hanyou.”  Kagome nodded.  Gaho continued, “Kin has prepared you a pack of food and extra clothing. You may stay here and converse with Shippo until the noon.”  With that, Gaho strode out of the cave.  Kin smiled and followed.  Then, Kagome began to mourn for her loss of the village and of Kaede.  Shippo could only hold his friend’s hand in some kind of comfort.  Kagome soon finished crying and stood.  Taking the pack so kindly provided by Kin, the Miko said a brief goodbye to Shippo and headed west.

The Western Lands, Sesshoumaru’s castle…

            Jaken busied himself with a review of the castle’s defenses as the day started.  His duties had dwindled ever since Sesshoumaru spent most of his time either in the rose garden with Rin or in the dojo doing katas.  Jaken tsisked and went about his day, all the while muttering about humans and Mikos and dirt.  Suddenly, there appeared a guard over the wall.  “Jaken-sama! There is a scout come from the Eastern villages. He looks near to death!”  Jaken immediately hopped over to the gatehouse.  There, within, was a tattered looking human scout seated in a chair, drinking a bit of water. 

“Tell me, human. What news do you bring?”  The scout said, “One of the Eastern-most villages on Sesshoumaru-sama’s lands has been destroyed by a rampaging demon. The village Mikos have been killed and the demon continues his destruction this way.”  Jaken scurried off to tell Sesshoumaru of this news. 

            Sesshoumaru sat in his office, once again reflecting on ‘his’ miko.  Sesshoumaru stopped himself, ‘When has the Miko become mine?’  Jaken burst through the doors and bowed low in front of Sesshoumaru.  “What is it, Jaken?”  The toad demon spurted out, “A village has been destroyed, my Lord, and the Mikos killed!” 

Sesshoumaru’s eyes tinted a little red as he swept out of the office.  Jaken stood there, mouth agape.  Never had Sesshoumaru gotten so…so interested in a destroyed village.  Then, Jaken thought of the Miko that resided here for a month… Jaken squawked as he realized it was the Miko that made his master act this way.

At the edge of Inuyasha’s forest…looking towards the burnt village…

            Sesshoumaru surveyed the burnt village in disgust.  ‘So, the hanyou is the one responsible.’  The Demon Lord started to smell the air.  ‘Inuyasha had gone west…wait…there is another scent going the opposite direction…it’s a kitsune…with the Miko.’  Sesshoumaru headed out to find the source of the scent.