Returning To You

Chapter Twenty-Four

"I see you haven't forgotten my name after all these years, I'm glad." The bat youkai looked around, soon his men would inform him when the job was done. He had no wish to fight his former partner now, he wanted him to live a bit longer.

"Why? How are you alive, I thought you were dead." Kurama felt elated at knowing that his partner was alive. But confused as to why he would attack him. "Why would you go after my mother and myself? I have done nothing to warrant this attack."

"Lies, spare me the lies. I know what you did, you cannot fool me. I have waited almost a century for my revenge and now I will have it."

The neko suddenly ran out the doorway and transformed, her growl pierced the air. She sniffed the air once more and tried to run to the right. A dark ball of energy suddenly surrounded her, Kuronue sneered at her. "You will not interfere with my plans." The animal turned to him, rage in her eyes.

"Kirara," Kagome screamed. If Kirara had tried to run off it could only mean one thing, Sango was in danger. "It's Sango, she's trying to get to her."

Kuronue looked at the darkhaired girl, "Women's intuition, it really is an amazing thing. The cat will not intefere and neither shall you." He sent a blast out of his hand aiming towards the girl. He cursed when the small youkai snatched her out of harm's way.

"Kuronue what have you done?" Kurama felt dread fill him as his heart became heavy. He'd been so preoccupied at seeing his old partner, he hadn't noticed that woman gone. He cursed himself, she wasn't just any woman; she was his. Kuronue's laughter told him that he knew it also.

"Nothing yet, as we speak my men are merely securing her for me. Why kill your mother when I can fuck your whore?" He sneered at the fox, his senses told him that the girl was now his. Enough of this, "I'll be seeing you around Youko." The portal opened up behind him.

Anger filled the fox, old partner or not; he went in for the attack. Kuronue had suspected as much, he placed the barrier up. He watched the man slam into it and get thrown back. "Did you think I'd let you try to kill me before I got a chance to take my revenge? Don't worry I'll make sure you are the last thing she thinks about before she dies."

"No, don't you touch her." Kurama got back to his feet in time to see the portal close. He fell to his knees, this couldn't be happening.

"Get up, we will follow." Hiei yelled at him, he could wallow later. "If you don't want her to die, we best make haste. He wants you to follow, he left his scent on purpose. We will head to the Makai, he will be waiting for you." He could feel the conflicting emotions in the fox, he pitied him. For whatever reason the man felt he needed to get revenge on the fox he was doing a great job. There was no way for them to get there and stop him from killing the girl, if thats what he intended to do. "Think Kurama, if he wanted her dead, he could have killed her instead of just taking her. He is manipulating you, it is obviously a trap. He knows you will come, he's counting on it. If you are to face him it has to be with a clear mind. Taking the girl is a way to distract you, to cause you pain."

Kurama knew that Hiei spoke the truth but it didn't matter. He might not kill her but Kuronue could be more ruthless than Youko, he would take his anger out on her. "Let's go." He knew he couldn't save her from whatever his old partner had planned but he wouldn't let her die. He wouldn't lose her, as much as his old partner had meant to him; she meant more.


Sango struggled against the bonds that held her hands and feet. The thick rope was knotted tight almost cutting off the circulation. She'd been tossed into a room of some sort, no windows, one door. There wasn't any furniture, seemed they weren't thinking of keeping her here long. The room smelt also, even with her human nose she could smell the stale blood.

Pain filled crossed her face as she tried to move her sore body. Even if they hadn't killed her, she'd taken a beating. What was she going to do? Did the others even know that she was gone yet? Surely Kagome had noticed her missing by now. Of course they would come for her, if it was possible. But would they come in time? Would they arrive to find her corpse waiting for them?

Another question came to mind, why was she taken? Maybe it was a mistake. Had they mistaken her for Kagome? There was a good chance that was likely. Whatever the reason she wasn't going to wait for death to come for her. First she needed to release her hands.

Taking a deep breath she brought her hands up until the meaty part of one of her thumbs was placed in her mouth. Bracing herself against the pain she bit down until she felt the blood begin to ooze out. She watched the crimson liquid pool down her wrist coating both. Her hands began rubbing together until they became slippery. Several minutes later her hand slipped out of the restrainst, then she went to work on her feet.

Her heart dropped, the door opened as soon as her feet became free. A tall youkai came inside closing the door behind him. Her eyes looked him over and fear filled her. There was no way she'd be able to fight him and win. Was he the one behind her kidnapping? He was as tall as Kurama in his youkai form and his body spoke of power. His dark eyes leered at her with purpose, she stood up.

"Foolish of you to harm yourself, I would have untied you eventually." Kuronue looked the girl over. Even though feared poured off her, she stood her ground. He was impressed. His man had informed him of the fight the girl had put up. He found it hard to believe that a simple human girl could be that much trouble. Yet her eyes spoke volumes, she'd be sure to give him a hard time as well.

"Why have you brought me here?" She demanded.

"You are but a means to an end. They will come for you, more importantly he will come for you. I will have my revenge on the fox finally. It all starts with you, he will die knowing that I had his woman. Your corpse will be the last thing he sees."

Sango wasn't sure if she wanted to laugh or cry, just to make sure she understood. "So you took me because you thought it would hurt Kurama?"

"Exactly."

The laughter won out, it came out hysterically. It wasn't the time for it but the irony of it hit her. After not being able to get ahold of his family they decided to take her. Her of all people. There was a good chance she was about to be tortured and killed to hurt someone that wouldn't even grieve for her after she was dead. "You are a fool. Do what you wish to me but no it will all be in vain. Yes the group will come for me but mainly because you have the staff they have been ordered to retrieve. Kagome and Miroku may come for me but you have failed. Your revenge will be half ass at best. If Kurama comes it will be because he has a job to do not for me. You've done nothing but make yourself look like a fool by taking me."

"Silence, you are his woman, he is youkai; he will come for YOU."

"Are you really that stupid? Or is your nose broken? I'm sure if you took your head out your ass you would smell the proof of exactly how much I mean to him." She wasn't sure why she was rubbing it in his face. Part of her was heartbroken that she spoke the truth, the other was glad that he had made the mistake and taken her. At least if saved Shiori.

Kuronue could smell her blood more than anything and the scent of his men. He stalked over to the girl, underneath it all he caught the faint scent of the fox's semen. Something was off, then he knew. It was on the girl, the fox had released himself on her. Which meant he'd been wrong, if he cared for the girl or if she was to be his mate he wouldn't have done so. Anger filled him, he'd done nothing but kidnap his whore. "Bitch, I'll wipe that smile off your face."

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