It's been a minute guys! Sorry about that, but here's a short chapter for you all just to prove I'm not dead!

Word count: 2138

"You did well little brother."

Kagome flinched at the voice, stirring and fighting the ringing in her head to open her eyes. When she did she scowled at the lanterns around her, the lighting alone making her head spin. It appeared she had been taken to an old building, the intricate dark stained wood ceiling above her formed and built into a rockface, as boulders and granite peeked through broken boards and interrupted formation. So was she was underground? Or in a cave? But inside a building? Great.

Shifting and flexing her muscles to try and sit up, she glanced down at the dark black tendrils that held her captive. Wormed and tangled around her arms, legs and waist, she was left with no room to wiggle her way free.

"Are you awake little witch?" The dark rumbling voice above her head had her jerking her chin up, tilting her head backwards into the stone surface she had been placed on.

Inhuman green eyes and a dark silver furred muzzle filled her vision. With a curl of flesh around it's face, the creature let out a low growl and bared it's large fangs, fangs as big as her very face.

Unable to control herself she let out a high pitched wail. Thrashing her arms and legs against her restraints as she tried to get away from the creature.

"Ryuu, her screams hurt my ears." The first voice called gently over her screams, and the creature backed away from her sight. Kagome ceased screaming but looked around frantically for where the thing went.

The stone beneath her vibrated and shifted. And she could see around her a large silver and red furred limb(?) uncoil from around her stone perch. Following the path of the thing around her, it slithered off to her left and up wooden steps towards a throne.

'For crying out out who are these guys?' Kagome swallowed as she met the eyes of her captors. Curled around the throne from left to right, the tail and head of a massive silver and burgundy dragon shifted up almost like a cobra, it's dark grey talons piercing the wood as it's arms held its upper body up in a proud stance. Large gray horns adorned its temple, and it's green eyes glared at her. It let out another growl Before a flare of red miasma engulfed the dragon and shrunk it, fur and horns evaporating in seconds to reveal a boy.

Kagome blinked and took in this new appearance, he looked just a little younger than Kohaku. With short silver hair and bright green eyes. Little purple stripes adorned each cheek and his eyes were rimmed with navy. He leaned in close to the throne, a hand reaching out to grasp the sleeve of the person who sat there.

Without the frightful presence of a dragon in the room, Kagome finally noticed the woman sitting upon the throne. Her silver hair was piled elaborately on top of her head, her cheeks adorning two purple stripes on each side, and her dark red eyes lined with blue. On her forehead, underneath her bangs, was the dark glow of a jewel shard. She shifted forward to observe Kagome with a bored gaze, her tongue darting out to lick her top lip. Kagome shivered at the expression. But more than that, she blinked to make sure she wasn't seeing anything, hovering in the darkness above them was one of Naraku's insects.

"What's the big idea?! What do you want huh?" Kagome yelled, trying to cover up her fear with outrage.

"The idea, little jewel witch, is to absorb that soul of yours and retrieve my father's power." The woman spoke, standing from her position and striding down the steps towards her. Green lights illuminated from the ground around Kagome as she approached and Kagome glared.

"Yeah well get in line! You're not the first person to want my soul and you ain't gonna get it either!" Kagome squirmed as she got closer, eyes widening in fear as the woman reached out a pale hand towards her face. "Who are you? Get away!" She yelped, a barrier bursting from her chest and snapping at the woman's hand.

The woman flinched away, a snarl escaping her painted lips as her skin steamed from the burn. "A barrier?" She growled, and Kagome made a squinted face at the deja vu. Why was everyone after her soul? Why did they always expect it to be easy to take? She was kinda attached to it for crying out loud!

The woman stepped away and began leaving, a flourish of purple silk in her wake.

"Chiyako?" The boy called after her, moving to follow her until she raised a hand to make him pause.

"This complicates things. I shall return shortly Ryuu, watch our guest." Her red gaze glared back over her shoulder at Kagome for one moment before she moved up the steps and around the throne, disappearing from Kagome's sight.

"Why me?!" Kagome groaned, the boy looking at her with a bland expression. She glared back "What? Wouldn't you be in a bad mood if people keep trying to steal your soul?" She countered at him, again met with silence.

Kagome huffed "Who are you two? What lies did Naraku told you?" her eyes darted into the darkness, seeking the insect that had been there minutes ago. She could no longer see it now, but that didn't mean it wasn't still watching. Or that Naraku wasn't watching.

"Who?" He asked plainly, a small frown on his round face. Kagome glared at him, trying to see if he was playing dumb, but by his demeanor she could not tell.

The boy blinked at her as she judged him, and tried again "I am Ryuu, of the eastern dragon clans. My sister is Chiyako. Who is Naraku?"

Kagome hesitated at his answer, seeing no lie upon his face or in his tone. "Did you not see the insect demons?" She asked quickly, her eyes flickering to the shadows once more in confusion.

"They follow my sister. They serve her." He shrugged, moving closer to her once more. She tensed as he approached, unsure of what he was doing. With a wave of his hand, the tendrils across her chest lifted, allowing her the ability to sit up which she gratefully took.

Looking around her curiously, she took in the room formed by rock and wood. It was like someone had decided to build a shiro within a cave, molding the structure right up to the rock as she had seen on the ceiling. And the stone slab she was strapped to seemed to be like a centerpiece, or an altar.

"Those insects belong to a evil half demon named Naraku. If they follow your sister I'm sure he's just using her for something." Kagome said quietly, almost sadly. She saw this too often over the years, Naraku using people and demons alike to get what he wanted, lying to them and twisting their minds to his will. It was disgusting.

"My sister would not be used human, she wishes to avenge our family name and restore our place as a great power in the east." Ryuu recited, Kagome furrowed her brows at him.

"Avenge your family? What happened to them?" She asked curiously. 'If I learn enough, maybe I can solve this and keep Naraku from playing whatever game hes trying at this time.'

Ryuu blinked, seeming mildly startled at her curiosity. "We were once a great family, loyal to the throne of the east. My father lost in a great battle with a powerful Miko, and lost his place as general. Soon after, to restore his place he attempted again, and lost his life at the hands of the same Miko, his soul trapped for eternity." Kagome stopped breathing, feeling dread wash over her at the tale and where it seemed to be going.

"My mother, sister and I retreated here, where my mother sealed us away for our protection from the Miko and the anger of the throne. My sister woke me not long ago."

Kagome drew a breath through her teeth "And your mother?"

His green eyes narrowed at her, and the dark red miasma flared around him again with a flash of power. "You and your's killed her, witch!"

...

He would give her credit as due, she could defend herself.

Though the action was surely instinct, it still packed a punch. He was sure his own aura tired to overpower hers in the moment, pride and dominance seeking to subdue the female into accepting him. He was unsure however if it was his own power or the surprise of his actions that had caused her powers to surface in self defense.

He had miscalculated. His frown deepened as he flexed his fingers, the pure power slowly evaporating and allowing him to move once more. Her power though great, had not harmed him, it was more like a backhand, his power sparking against hers and causing an almost steam effect.

His brows furrowed, this substance to Bokuseno's words about intent in regard to conflicting powers.

To think he had miscalculated, was unsettling. Bokuseno had warned him she would not be easy to court in comparison to others. He assumed she would just need a more forward approach. Now he would have to recalculate his method of approach once more. Damn insufferable woman.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha bounded into the clearing where the miko had run from, right past the broken tree and still Sesshomaru. Catching a glimpse of him out of the corner of his eye, Inuyasha whirled on him, hand gripping the hilt of his sword as he stared down his older brother.

"Sesshomaru! What happened to Kagome? Where is she?" Inuyasha demanded, baring his fangs at the older Inuyoukai.

"Inuyasha!" Miroku called out, approaching the small clearing as well, Sango and the rest of their company not far behind him. Miroku hopped back away from Sesshomaru, seeing the state he was in and not wanting to be within harms range. "Lord Sesshomaru what has happened? We felt Kagome's power, and then another dark miasma not yours!"

"What did you do to Kagome?" Inuyasha snarled again, muscles flexing and tensing. Sesshomaru finally acknowledged him with a glare.

"It seems the priestess has been captured." He said blandly, his mokomoko flicking in an effort to remove dirt from his person.

"Yeah and by who? I can smell her aura all over you, so what did you do to her ya bastard?"

"Are you alright my lord?" Rin called as she bounded up upon Ah-un's back, right behind Sango on Kirara

'Hn. What have we always been doing little brother?" His eyes flickered to the tree the priestess has been using as target practice. Though he knew his brother would not catch what he had always been doing, spending time observing and learning about his mate and her capabilities. Inuyasha followed his gaze and saw the mass of arrows. But his scowl did not lessen.

"What you're telling me you actually let her hit you with her power? And she actually hit you?" Inuyasha scoffed in disbelief.

"She would not hit me had I not allowed it so. However there was miscommunication. She ran away in what I can assume fear or embarrassment of her actions when I was rendered unable to move." Sesshomaru explained as he gained enough movement to stand.

"And you let her run off to be captured! This is more and more suspicious by the second you bastard!" Inuyasha took a step towards him as if to attack.

Miroku chose then to step in between them then, holding his free hand out to Inuyasha in a halting gesture.

"Lord Sesshomaru has given his side of the story Inuyasha. Perhaps we should focus on finding her first. That aura seems to be fading by the second and if we continue like this we will lose the trail to find Kagome." Sesshomaru brushed past him towards the coast, passing his brother as well.

"Feh." Inuyasha growled, somewhat calmed by Miroku's words and turned to follow behind Sesshomaru as they both sped up. Miroku and Sango shared a look before turning their attention on Rin.

"Rin, Shippo, please stay by the village with Jaken, we have no idea what this enemy will be like." Miroku said carefully as Kirara walked over to allow him to climb up on her back.

"Why should I listen to a filthy human like you?!" Jaken yelled, waving his staff.

"You would rather risk Rin's life and Sesshomaru's wrath?" Sango shot at him, arching a brow at him. The imp stuttered and huffed, looking away in angry contemplation.

"We shall await your return." Rin nodded and smiled at them. "Be safe!"