The carriage made headway towards an unknown location, the occasional bump in the road being any indication to Kagome that they were still on the move. She was slumped against the side of the carriage, her right hand bound, her mouth gagged, and her eyes blindfolded. From what Kagome gathered, there was one more person in the carriage with her but she was unsure as to who it could be.

Could it be a bandit to watch me? Or another victim…

Kagome's soul screamed with all of its essence, hoping that divines delivered the message to Inuyasha. Kagome knew her mate. She knew how possessive he was. How protective he could be… being knocked unconscious while having your mate taken from you was enough to drive any demon wild, but the case was different with genetically canine demons.

Wolves, dogs, and coyote demons would shred anybody that stood in their way, just for the sake of their mate.

Despite growing up in the wild, being shunned by both of his bloods, Kagome knew that the innate possessiveness Inuyasha had would rival any full-blooded demon when it came to her wellbeing.

"Onee-chan… are you okay?"

Kagome's head snapped in the direction of where a timid voice sounded. So the person in here with me is another victim. And she sounds young… early teens, I think.

Kagome nodded, trying to convey the message that she was okay. Despite being bound, gagged, and blindfolded, the priestess that housed the Shikon no Tama knew that she had to fake her own courage for the sake of those around her. It was a trait she grew up with that only fostered and strengthened during her travels with her misfit band of shard hunters.

"Hold on…"

There was a soft shuffling before Kagome felt something soft press against her forehead. It must be her face…

Kagome was surprised when she felt the blindfold being pulled down. The darkness welcomed her and within a matter of moments, Kagome's eyes adjusted enough to see a very frightened girl kneeling before her, hands bound as well. She had used her teeth to pull the blindfold down to Kagome's neck.

Because she was gagged, Kagome was unable to smile but she hoped that the look in her eyes reflected appreciation. She girl smiled back.

"There… turn around? I think I can get the gag."

Nodding, Kagome turned her head and the girl shuffled forward, grabbing one end of the knot with her teeth and yanked. Kagome's head jerked back but she pulled forward, hoping the two opposing forces would be enough to untie the gag. To her relief, it did work and the gag fell haplessly onto Kagome's lap.

"Thank you." Kagome said, her voice hoarse. "What's your name?"

"Kimiko… and you?"

"I'm Kagome."

Kimiko furrowed her eyebrows, thinking very hard for a moment before her eyes lit up with excitement. "Are you the famous shard detector that travels with the hanyou?"

Kagome smiled wistfully. She knew there were legends and rumours about her and Inuyasha that whispered through the winds of Japan. It didn't surprise her that this girl recognized her name.

"The very same. You've heard of us?"

Kimiko grinned with excitement, bouncing on her knees to prove it. "I've heard so much about you! My village is always hoping that you and Onii-chan would come through." Kimiko's grin dropped, but slightly. "You haven't yet, but that's okay! That just means there aren't any bad demons around our village with the Shikon no Tama shards."

"That's a very positive way of thinking, Kimiko." Kagome said, smiling in amusement. "Which village are you from?"

"Kita no Ningen." Kimiko shuffled a little closer to Kagome. "We're the village at the foot of the Northern Castle… we're the only region of the continent that's run by humans. The other Demon Lords take care of us…" Kimiko bit her lower lip and Kagome began piecing the puzzle together. "I can't remember their names exactly. There's Lord Sesshomaru of the West—"

Kagome decided to take over, as she knew the other demon lords very well. "Sesshomaru of the West, Kouga of the East and Toran of the South."

Kimiko gasped, clearly very surprised at Kagome's knowledge of the Compass Lords – the title given to the four rules of the corners of Japan. "You know all of their names by heart? Have you met them?"

It warmed Kagome's heart hearing Kimiko's innocent question. To her, seeing Sesshomaru and Kouga was a daily occurrence. To somebody like Kimiko, however; a young girl that knew nothing other than the four walls of her village… meeting the Compass Lords would be the highlight of her life.

"I know Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Kouga personally. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Lady Toran yet." She doesn't need to know that Sesshomaru is my big brother. The knowledge that I know Sesshomaru and am related to him could be too much for her to handle right now.

Kimiko's eyes were twinkling, excitement radiating off of her body. "You know Lord Sesshomaru and Lord Kouga personally?! I've only seen them when they do rounds…" Kimiko bit her lower lip, thinking very hard. "Well, I've seen Lord Sesshomaru on a frequent enough basis. Lord Kouga and Lady Toran don't really make rounds to the North, now that I think about it."

Of course they wouldn't. Kagome thought. The land belongs to Inuyasha, and Sesshomaru probably thinks it's his duty as the elder brother to look after it until Inuyasha is deemed fit to rule. Whatever treaty forced Kouga and Toran to lend a hand in its protection is clearly not working.

"Say, Onee-chan…" Kimiko's shoulders slumped. "Do you know who these men are?"

Kagome shook her head. "Your guess is as good as mine, Kimiko. Do you have any idea of why were you taken?"

Kimiko shrugged. "I don't really know. I overheard them talking about the Heir to the North and the Shard Detector…"

Heir to the North? But that's Inuyasha… why did they leave him if they need him?

"Well, I am the shard detector." Kagome offered. "That's why my friends and I travel Japan, to reassemble the jewel. You know the story, don't you?"

Kimiko nodded, considering what Kagome said. "That's right… well; I guess I'm an heir, then."

Kagome's eyebrows shot up. "Eh?"

Nodding with excitement, the fear that Kimiko expressed earlier seemed to vanish. She truly still was a child. "Yep! Lady Izayoi is my ancestor; I share the same bloodline as her from my mother's side. Since Lord Sesshomaru's brother, who was Lady Izayoi's son, has been missing, he can't assume the throne." Shock rocked Kagome to the core. Kimiko is related to Inuyasha?! He did have living family other than Sesshomaru.

"But my blood is too distant," Kimiko murmured. "Nobody else is related to Lazy Izayoi though. Maybe that's why they took me?"

Kagome crawled over to where Kimiko was and sat next to her, pressing her arm against hers. Her left arm was pounding mercilessly; lucky for her, her captors didn't undo the bindings but simply tied her right arm with the sling of her left. They also wrapped a binding around her torso to keep her arms in place.

"So you're the heir and I'm the detector," Kagome concluded. "What could they want from us?"

"I don't know… I hope somebody saves us." Kimiko sounded devastated, her tone echoing resignation.

"I know somebody will. I have friends who are very protective of me… they won't rest until they know I'm safe. They'll come for us, I have no doubt about that." Kagome knew that, if not anybody else, Inuyasha would come get her. She was unsure if he'd call Miroku or Shippo to join him; it was likely he went into beast mode as soon as he regained consciousness, but Kagome wasn't sure. She was basing her assumptions on what historically Inuyasha had done.

"Your friend, the hanyou, is going to come?" Kimiko whispered. "Do you really think he'll come and risk his life for us? I don't think my friends would do something like that…"

Kagome laughed. "He's a very good friend," Kagome leaned forward so her lips were close to Kimiko's ear. "He's actually my husband."

"Ehh?!" Kimiko's eyes snapped wide open and she whipped her head to Kagome. "You married him!? That is so romantic… I want somebody to marry me…"

Kagome threw her head back and laughed with her heart for the first time since she was thrown into the back of a carriage. Kimiko was very scatter-brained, but it was endearing. Within moments, Kagome's heart opened up to include Kimiko; she knew that, whether she saw the girl again or not, she would always hold a special place.

The carriage abruptly came to a halt and the carriage door was thrown wide open. Kagome inhaled sharply, realizing that her lack of gag and blindfold would tip the bandits off—it was too late, though, as there was no way she and Kimiko could put it back on. Their hands were bound tightly.

"Get out!… how the hell did your blinds come off?!"

Kagome felt Kimiko stiffen.

"I'm the shard detector, as you said." Kagome boldly stated. "I'm also a priestess. Did you not consider I could undo the bindings with my chi alone?"

The bandit snarled and shook his fisted hand at Kagome. "You make one wrong move, and I'll oust you."

"I would like to see you try." Kagome didn't know how she got so ballsy, but something within her insisted that she kept going. The more she talked, the less their attention would be on Kimiko.

"Get out!" The bandit roared, making Kimiko jump. Kagome looked at her affectionately and nodded, just slightly. She was trying to convey to Kimiko that as long as she was around, nothing would happen to her. Kimiko seemed to understand and sent a meek smile back at Kagome before clambering off of the carriage first. Kagome followed suite, manoeuvring her body so that she could get off the carriage without the use of her hands.

It was dark outside; Kagome was unable to determine where exactly the bandits had taken them. All she could see was a small run down hut with a boar carcass outside of it. Fleas infested the thing; a putrid stench filled the air making Kimiko gag unintentionally. One bandit behind them shoved them viciously, pushing them to go forward and in to the hut.

"Move!"

Kagome stumbled forward but did as she was told silently. Her heart slammed against her chest, her soul once again crying out to Inuyasha—he would find her. He always did, and she knew he always would. She didn't care about herself; she had been banged up, beaten, and kidnapped more times than she could count. She was worried about the young girl with her that probably never had to deal with bad guys before.

It was enough to lose one's innocence.

They passed the boar carcass and Kimiko buried her nose into Kagome's back, walking close enough for their feet to keep colliding. Kagome held her breath, walking slow enough for Kimiko to keep up; she called her Onee-chan, and it reminded her of Souta.

Souta; one of those she would die for.

Candles were lit in the empty hut, but five bandits stood around the perimeter. The one that was behind them pushed them into the centre and told them to kneel and stay seated. Kimiko was curled up next to Kagome, trying to hardest to remain strong but failing miserably. Tears soaked the side of Kagome's yukata and it burned her insides with an anger so fierce.

Wait until Inuyasha comes. Her threat echoed only in her mind. I hope he slaughters each of you…

Kagome never wished death upon a fellow human, but her disgust and hatred towards those that kidnapped poor Kimiko was so astounding that Kagome wanted nothing more than slow, miserable, painful deaths for the bandits. The little girl was afraid and, evidently, taken before Kagome. How long did she have to endure their wrath?! How could her spirit still be so strong when talking to me when who knows what she was put through…

If Kagome had demon blood in her veins, she was certain she'd turn in to a cold-blooded demon at that very moment.

"Now you wait for our leader, Goshen." One of the bandits called out. "When he comes, we move."

"To where?" Kagome called out, unafraid. She determined that she and Kimiko were important characters in a bigger game. They weren't going to kill them yet. Not until this Goshen guy came…

"Wouldn't you like to know, shard detector." The bandits laughed, the one that was behind them scoffing loudly.

"Oh, the stories we've heard! A hanyou bastard with unparalleled strength that travelled with a priestess who could sense the shards… What strength?! One shot of my tranquillizer darts knocked him out like a little bastard baby." Their harsh laughter echoed.

Kagome chose to stay silent and just glare in response. She knew Inuyasha would find her. She knew that he'd punish those men for even laying a finger on her. She knew how protective he was when it came to her… to the point where he'd challenge any gods above for even looking at her funnily. But they didn't know any of that, and they would have a rude awakening when a demon charged through their hut, hacking them into little pieces.

Kagome flinched when one of leaders approached her and gripped the front of her yukata. Kimiko gasped, pulled slightly away from Kagome, eyes widening in pure fear.

"You're a pretty one, hm? Goshen will like you." Then, without warning, the bandit ripped her yukata, exposing one bare breast. Tears sprung in to Kagome's eyes as all the men watched, laughing. She snapped her eyes shut, praying that he didn't lay a hand on her—on the body that solely belonged to Inuyasha. It was as if some divine was listening to her; the bandit took a step back to simply stare, but not touch.

"Goshen will want to play with you first. Then we will have our turn. Come, men!" The bandits all left the hut, blowing out all candles except for one. When the door was shut and a few seconds passed, Kagome sprung into tears, curling forward so that her chest was as least exposed as possible. Alarmed, Kimiko scurried over and knelt in front of Kagome.

"Onee-chan?"

Kagome heaved, her sobs causing her body to convulse. In all the years she's been travelling, never had she felt so embarrassed… so exposed… so disgraced.

"Onee-chan, please calm down." Kimiko whispered. "They didn't do anything…"

Kagome shook her head, unable to listen to reason. Her spirit was breaking and her soul was dying; she wanted Inuyasha to gather her in his arms and kiss away the pain. She wanted to hear his heartbeat against her ear as they lay underneath the stars.

She needed him.

"Nobody is here but me, Onee-chan." Kimiko murmured. "We have each other. And when Onii-chan comes to save us, he'll beat them up, right?"

Kagome's cries quieted to a sniffle. He'll kill them… but death is too easy of a punishment for them.

Kagome and Kimiko shuffled over to a corner, Kagome tucking her body as far as she could into it with Kimiko sitting between her legs, shielding Kagome's exposed body from any bandit that may walk in. Before long, they fell into a restless sleep, their exhaustion finally catching up as their adrenaline subsided.

.xx.

Kagome awoke from her sleep, groggy and unaware of what time of day it was. Kimiko was sleeping on Kagome's chest, her cheek pressed against her exposed breast. Kagome's heart filled with a maternal affection; Kimiko was ready to get into harm's way to protect Kagome's dignity. If a bandit had entered the hut and saw that Kimiko used her body to shield Kagome's nakedness, who knew what would've happened.

Leaning her head back against the wall, Kagome closed her eyes and inhaled deeply through her nose.

How long has it been… Inuyasha, where are you?

There was no reason that Kagome could fathom why a random group of bandits wanted to kidnap her and Kimiko. Technically, they wanted her and Inuyasha as he was the true heir to the North. As his identity was still a mystery to the greater populous, the bandits couldn't have known that they shot a tranquillizer at the actual heir.

If Inuyasha had been kidnapped with Kagome instead of Kimiko, it would have meant that the little girl remained safe and Inuyasha and Kagome could save themselves with little to no effort.

It would've also meant that Kagome would never have been exposed to such indignity.

Tears welled in her eyes again, remembering the moment her yukata tore and her body became visible. Normally, Kagome wore bindings around her chest but that was only when she and Inuyasha travelled with the anticipation of being in a battle. Kagome was in her era for quite some time and didn't bind herself when she came back. All she was expecting to do was meet up with Sango and Miroku before making their quick pit stop at Sesshomaru's castle before heading back to her time.

The door of the hut flew open and Kimiko shot awake, pushing herself off of Kagome's chest to look at who entered the hut, but keeping her body strategically placed.

It was a bandit that neither girl had seen yet. His face was gaunt and his hair was in a dishevelled state. The stench of sake filled the hut as soon as he entered; he had to have been drinking all night.

"Ahhh, you're both so beautiful. But you…" He stomped forward and roughly shoved Kimiko aside. Kagome screamed as Kimiko collided with the wall. Her body slumped and she groaned in pain. Thankfully, she was still conscious.

The bandit hungrily stared at Kagome. "Kitsukami wasn't lying. You have milky skin, shard detector."

This has to be Goshen… Kagome's limbs tingled with fear. She would rather he hit her, injure her, break a limb… but she didn't want him to touch her.

Goshen reached out his hand, moving for Kagome's breast. Kagome screamed as she moved out of the way while kicking her foot forward, causing the dirty bandit's knee to buckle. Goshen fell forward but used his hands to steady himself with the corner walls of the hut. His eyes flashed with anger.

"Your body belongs to me now."

A sudden crash sounded from the outside and, within seconds, the front wall of the hut was torn down.

"Get the fuck away from my mate."

(insert dramatic gasp)