InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Destiny, Time Travelers, and a Little Baby ❯ They're Here!!!! ( Chapter 9 )

Disclaimer : It gets harder every time. What is it you ask? Saying these four words: I don't own Inuyasha. *SOB* I need a hug.....

Chapter 9 : They're he~re!

Inuyasha spent the rest of that day and half of the next thinking of ways to bring up the whole love issue with Kagome. His `right time', according to Miroku, finally came and he `grasped it with both hands'.

Kaede was off treating a family that lived on the edge of the village for a particularly virulent case of malaria. She had been with them all day yesterday and left before the sun came up today. It was safe to say she wouldn't be back until nightfall called her from her duties. Maybe not even then. Miroku and Sango were pestering villagers for information on the shards. Shippo and Little Kaede were out playing in the field beyond the village. And Kagome was studying in the hut. Alone.

Inuyasha had made a hasty retreat after breakfast. Kagome had stayed behind to see if he ever came back from `sulking'. He waited until the others left and snuck back into the hut. Kagome was reading under a window. The book in her lap was open to the middle and she was so absorbed in reading that she didn't even look up when Inuyasha started standing in the doorway.

She looked like an angel. Haloed by the sunlight filtering in through the window, catching the hints of blue in her raven hair and creating a glow upon her porcelain skin. He could watch her all day. But first, he had to talk to her, so he walked over to her and sat down.

Truth be told, Kagome had been distinctly aware of his presence in the room. How could she not? It seems like ever since their kiss, she had `Inu-dar'. She could sense when he entered a room. When he was anywhere near. Hell, if he had gotten lost in his forest, she could probably tell the search party where to go. Not that he ever would, but if he did.....

Oh, bah!

He stared at her intriguing profile for a few moments. She continued to ignore him. It wasn't easy, but she did it. Finally fed up with his silence, she looked up and tried to glare at him. Instead, she found him staring at her, piercing her very soul with his intense gaze. The deep golden hues and speckles of violet were most distracting and her mind went blank. He wasn't much better. `What was I going to talk to her about? Kagome Higurashi. Soooo pretty. Want to touch the hiney. Ah-ooo. No that's not it. Mating? *blush* That's part of it. Oh yeah! My love for her.' He cleared his throat and prepared for the hardest conversation of his life.

"Kagome." He held her hands like she'd disappear if he wasn't touching her. She snapped out of her dazed state at his soft touch.

"Yes, Inuyasha?" He was blushing furiously by now.

"I." He stopped. `Damn. It's as hard as I thought it would be.'

"You.....what?" `Get on with it. I have to study for this test.....'

"I.....I." He closed his eyes. `Big breath. And exhale.' "I love you." He opened his eyes to see her shocked face. `Is that a good thing? Shocked? Oh well. Just get on with it. Surely she has wants to know that you mean it.' "I've loved you since you unsealed me from the tree. I just didn't realize it until now." He paused to gauge her reaction. She was speechless. Floating on cloud nine. Getting no reaction from her, he continued. "I'm not great with words like Miroku, and you know that, but I want you to know that I'd never hurt you. I protect you with my life, and now I realize that I could never let anyone else protect you. I'll never leave you. Everyone I've ever loved has left me. Please don't leave me." He looked at her with an pleading expression so sullen that there was no way she could ever deny him.

Kagome's eyes filled with tears as what he'd said sunk in. Looking back at him with a teary smile, she managed to get out, "Oh, Inuyasha."

Taking that as a dismissal, he turned to leave. `Maybe she HAS given up on me. Stupid idiot!!! Why did you take so long?!' he thought, his mind full of the bitterest self loathing.

She grabbed his haori as she figured his intentions. "Don't. Please. You said you'd never hurt me."

He turned to look at her quickly. "I won't." He stated with conviction.

"Wrong." She declared. "If you were to leave me now, after that, you'd hurt me more than anything we've ever been though has." She looked up into his face, convincing him with her eyes. "Don't leave me. Because I will never leave you. I love you, Inuyasha, more than my own life." His face cleared of all hurt he'd been feeling, and when she held up her arms, the smile that made his heart flip on her face, he appreciatively fell into her embrace. Kagome eagerly accepted him and held the man she loved close to her heart.

They stayed like that for a time. Each enjoying the other's nearness. Inuyasha tilted his head and leaned up to capture her lips. But before he could indulge in the sweetness of Kagome, the moment was shattered by a piercing scream.

"Kaede!" Kagome shouted.

Inuyasha leapt to his feet as another voice joined in the silence left from the first. "Shippo!" He called as he ran from the hut, Kagome on his heels.

He followed the kids' scents to the field and stood wide-eyed at the scene before him.

In the middle of the clearing, Shippo stood proudly, yelling at a man more than three times his size. He was covered with dirt. Tiny scratches adorned his skin. Clumps of mud hung from his tail and covered his face. He was a mess and had obviously been fighting the man for all he was worth.

Said man was covered head to toe in a skin-tight, black ninja outfit. They couldn't see his face, but they could distinctly make out the person hanging by the back of her kimono in his grasp.

Kaede was also covered in dirt from trying to dodge the man and the process of getting protected by Shippo. She had no scrapes or cuts, meaning the kit did a fine job for someone his size. That is.....until the man caught her.

But the most disturbing part of this small scene, was Kikyo smirking in the background.

"Kikyo." Inuyasha all but whispered.

`Oh, sure, you love me until she comes around.' Kagome thought bitterly. `I knew it. I just knew it would end in something like this.'

He proved her wrong with his next words. "Leave this place, Kikyo. You have no reason to be here."

Kikyo scowled at the hanyou. "Oh, but I do, Inuyasha. I'm here to take back what's mine." She focused on the ninja. "Kosimu!"

He turned to her. They had discussion that no one else could hear. All too soon, the man handed her Kaede and turned back, ready to fight Inuyasha while she made her get away.

"Oh no you don't." Kagome yelled and took off after the dead miko.

"Kagome!" Inuyasha cried. But just as he was turning to pick up Shippo and go after her, Kosimu attacked.

The ninja ran and jumped into the air, a leg out to kick Inuyasha's head in. Our hero turned just in time to dodge the kick. He told Shippo to go back to Kaede's, and settled into a fighting stance. "Ah, hell no! It's on now."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*In the Forest*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kikyo had run a few yards away from the scene before she got caught up by her soul stealers. She had Kaede under her arm and a sinister smile on her face. "You will work well for me, little one. Yes you will." A morbid chuckle escaped her lips.

Kaede struggled against the arm that held her, but to no avail. The miko had her trapped in an iron grip. She gave up the fight after a little while. She chanced to look behind her and regained her hope with the glimpse of Kagome. `Mommy.....'

Kagome had run after Kikyo and followed her deep into the heart of Inuyasha's forest. `Damn she's fast.' She was getting tired, but the dead one showed no signs of stopping anytime soon.

All too quickly, Kagome fell to the ground without enough strength to continue. She had run until she collapsed, gasping for breath on the forest floor.

"I'm so sorry, Kaede. Please forgive me." She whispered to the leaves covering the ground. "I will get you from her. Don't give up on me."

She blacked out for a minute. Slowly things came back into focus. She forced herself from the ground and looked to see the shimmering light of Kikyo's minions disappearing into the glow of the afternoon. `I will get her back.' She vowed vehemently. `My baby. I'll come for you.' She turned and slowly trudged back to where she'd left the boys.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back at the Clearing*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Inuyasha and Kosimu were locked in a heated battle. They seemed to be evenly matched. For every maneuver Inuyasha executed, Kosimu had an opposing move to cancel his out. Both men were rapidly tiring. But something kept bothering Inuyasha while he was fighting the mysterious masked man.

`It's his eyes.' He realized. `They're so blank. Lifeless even. It's like he's a puppet. Like Kohaku.....'

Kosimu threw eight ninja stars at Inuyasha. The hanyou dodged left and missed all but two of them. They ripped through his fire-rat armor and slashed his right arm and side. Inuyasha grunted in pain and continued on with the fight.

He used his hanyou speed and landed a punch to the ninja's face. Kosimu pulled back to take most of the force out of the blow, but the strike loosened his mask. It fluttered to the ground leaving his face exposed for the first time the entire fight.

After losing his mask, he hesitated only briefly. But before Inuyasha could pull out Tetsusaiga, Kosimu had jumped back into the fray and pulled his own katana. They started a sword battle and in no time both had numerous slices adorning their bodies.

Inuyasha jumped high in the air and moved to slice his opponent in half. Kosimu was looking around for where his target went. Kikyo had said to kill him, and he wouldn't disobey his mistress (not like he could anyway). He looked up and spotted the half-youkai. Pulling back and spinning to the side, he deflected the blow and swung his blade around to get a hit in.

This is the scene Kagome came back to.

She was distantly aware of the man's short, yet unruly, black hair and piercingly blue eyes. But his slightly muscular physique was lost on her as she saw that the love of her life was about to get his handsome head chopped off.

"No!" she hollered.

Inuyasha saw the blow just in time and dodged it. Kosimu recognized the woman at the edge of the clearing and heard a voice in his head say to come. He ran off in the direction Kikyo went.

Inuyasha turned around to find that the guy had disappeared. `Kosimu, was it? We'll have a rematch soon. I can feel it.' He looked at Kagome, relieved she was still alive, but noticed something was missing. He turned concerned and asked gently, "Kikyo got away, didn't she?"

Kagome looked down and started to sniffle. "Yes. She was so fast, Inuyasha. I just couldn't keep up with her once her soul stealers got her. Kaede was looking at me over Kikyo's shoulder the whole time. It was so horrible." She had been trying to hold back the big sobs to keep her voice somewhat even, but one finally got through. "There was nothing I could do but watch her run away."

Inuyasha put his finger to her chin and tilted her head up. Tears were streaming down her face as he tried to comfort her with his eyes and words. "I know. There's nothing anyone could've done." He broke the connection as he realized something. "Dammit! If that guy hadn't started fighting me, I could've gone after her myself." He growled at the thought of what she could be doing to his little girl right now. "I swear, if she hurts her, I'll personally send her to Hell."

Kagome put a hand on his arm, comforting him with her presence, as her tears slowed. "Inuyasha," she started placatingly, "you'd never be able to do that. We must give Kikyo peace."

He looked back at her guiltily and his eyes softened. He took in her red, puffy eyes and wet cheeks and gently cupped her face. "I know." He pulled her as close to him as he could. Laying his cheek on her head, he inhaled her relaxing scent. "We'll get her back as soon as we can. I promise."

She grimaced, knowing he couldn't see it. "I know." And she collapsed into his strong arms, softly crying once more.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back with everyone else*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Shippo had run to Kaede's hut when Inuyasha had told him to for once. On the way, he ran past the old miko at a nearby villager's hut. She stepped outside to get away from the odors just as Shippo ran by the house.

She noticed his panicked look and asked, "What is wrong with ye child? Is someone else ill?"

The kitsune stopped in his tracks. "No, Granny Kaede. Little Kaede got captured by Kikyo and now Inuyasha is fighting her henchman and Kagome ran off after her. It's gonna be bad. Inuyasha told me to go back to your house and wait for them, I guess, but I don't even know if they'll come back. And what about Kaede? Will she be okay?" He said hurriedly. What he really needed now was some reassurance.

"Oh-aye and I like not the looks of it." Kaede mumbled quietly. She quickly tried to figure out a plan. "Quick child. Sniff out Sango and Miroku. Bring them to the fight. Inuyasha may need help if my sister is involved and I'm sure Kagome could use Kirara's help. Be brief, child. Run."

Shippo ran away to get the exterminator and the monk. He found their trails and followed them into the village.

In town, Miroku was hitting on the new girl. Well, it had to be the new one. All the rest of them were already well acquainted with his behavior.

"I see." He put on his innocent face. "And where is your husband, beautiful lady?"

The girl giggled. "I have none, Sir Monk."

"Well, that is too bad." He was at peak performance today. "I am but a poor monk. May I ask a favor of a beautiful woman such as yourself?"

"Of course." The girl fell right into his act. "I would gladly help a member of the order."

He grasped her hands and bent over them in all seriousness. "Would you bear my first born son?"

The girl sputtered and choked, grabbing her hands back. A woman was not supposed to hit a man, but it was so tempting to do so for his insolence.

Enter Sango with her amazing boomerang.

*BOOM* *THUD*

Miroku flew to the ground. He sat up, clutching his head in pain. "Ow, Sango. Not so hard."

"I can't believe you, Houshi-sama." She said with a slight trace of betrayal in her voice.

He winced at her choice in names. `Damn. I did it again, didn't I?' "I couldn't help myself beautiful Sango. It was a reflex." Loving Sango was easy. Breaking bad old habits was not.

"Don't you `beautiful Sango' me, letch. I know your game." Sango held Hiraikotsu up threateningly. He cowered in fear and was only saved from further damage by Shippo who came running in on the scene. He looked so distraught that both teens stopped fighting immediately. "What's the matter Shippo? Is something wrong with Kagome or Kaede?" Sango asked, concerned.

He put his hands on his knees to catch his breath. "Yes. *pant pant* Kikyo *pant* kidnapped Kaede *wheeze* Kagome ran after 'em *cough* Inuyasha *pant* fighting henchman. *big breath* Come quick."

Sango and Miroku looked at each other. This was not good.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back with Kagome and Inuyasha*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Inuyasha held Kagome as her tears subsided. He felt like crying himself, but that would show weakness and he was not weak. In order to calm her and himself, he kept repeating "We'll get her back." under his breath. It seemed to calm her down and give him a strong determination to actually do it. He promised Kagome he would do so, and he would NOT break a promise to her.

Eventually, Kagome calmed down enough to talk. "What are we going to do? How will we get her back?" She looked to him for answers.

He thought for a moment. "I don't know." He answered truthfully. "I don't know where Kikyo is. I don't know how we'll get her back if we ever do find them. I don't know shit about how to handle this situation." He was gradually working himself up over a simple question. The sheer helplessness of it was getting to him. He couldn't barge in, hacking away at the threat until he got what he wanted. He couldn't just kill his enemy, because his enemy was Kikyo. "I don't-" He was cut off by Kagome's `distraction`.

She saw he was getting worked up and decided it was her DUTY to distract him. She did the first thing she could think of. Grabbing both sides of his head, she pulled him down to her level and kissed him soundly on the lips. She'd been wanting to do that since her living room and finally found an excuse to indulge in her fantasy.

Inuyasha, being caught off guard, stood in shock until she began pulling away. Instinctively he grabbed her waist, holding her in place. `So nice. So sweet. So mine.' His thoughts ended as Kagome's lips became more demanding. He deepened it as much as he could in his current position. All in all it was a good kiss, but then again, every one of Kagome's kisses would be good to him. Unfortunately they were untimely interrupted.

Shippo had led Sango and Miroku to the battle scene, but when they got there, it was already over. Instead they found a source of embarrassment to most and humor to some.

They walked right in on Inuyasha and Kagome kissing.

"EWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!" cried Shippo, like any other little boy who had seen someone kissing would. "How can you do that, Kagome? That's so gross."

Kagome was red to her feet. At first, Inuyasha had a crimson pink blush staining his cheeks. Soon it turned a violent maroon, born from anger and frustration. And guess who it was directed at.....

A growl rumbled from his chest and his fist clenched. "Shippo." He said calmly. Too calmly. "Run."

With no further warning, Inuyasha took off after Shippo. It was good to see he hadn't lost his spunk, but Kagome wasn't in the mood to deal with it. "Sit boy." Inuyasha huffed and waited for his submission to end. Shippo was hiding in Kagome's arms, when he noticed someone was missing.

"Kagome?" He asked innocently. "Where's Kaede? Didn't you get her back from Kikyo and that guy?"

Miroku and Sango finally remembered the reason they were here and noticed she was, in fact, missing. They looked at her questioningly. Kagome looked to the ground, ready to cry again when Inuyasha jumped out of his hole behind her and placed a hand on her shoulder. She turned into his chest again and let it out. Inuyasha had a troubled expression on his face as he tried to explain what happened while Kagome cried.

Once the difficult to understand explanation was out of the way, all had varying emotions playing across their faces. Miroku looked indifferent as he always did when he put up a front. Sango looked about ready to cry herself as she clung to Kagome. Kagome had detached from Inuyasha to put in her thoughts at some point and was now trying to calm down Sango. Shippo was bawling in between the girls and Inuyasha was angrier at Kikyo than he had been before. The fact that she would do this was impossible to believe, until he took into account that she wasn't the woman he knew fifty some-odd years ago.

Miroku finally spoke, breaking the oppressive silence that was upon the group. "How should we proceed?" He looked into each of their eyes for an answer to his question, but none had the answers he was seeking. Inuyasha was confused, Kagome was melancholy, Sango was ready to kill someone and Shippo was still crying over his lost playmate and little sister.

The group had a lot of decisions to make. A solemn collection of friends hiked back to Kaede's hut to `chew the fat' with the old woman and make some plans on how to get Kaede back.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Kikyo's Hideout of the Night*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kosimu had finally made it back to where Kikyo had set up camp. It took him all day to get there.

He found his mistress sitting on a log, looking across the fire at the little girl. Kaede was passed out from all the stress of the day. The fact that Kikyo had hit her once they got there with a small amount of Miko energy had NOTHING to do with it.

"Kosimu." she said in a sing-song voice. "He's still alive. Him and that girl. I forgive you for now, but next time I won't be so lenient." `After all, I never even expected you to hold him off as well as you did.' She walked over to the unconscious girl. "She is rather wonderful, isn't she pet? `I have many plans for you young one.' Rest now, Kosimu. We leave in the morning."

As he prepared for bed that night, he began to wonder why he could hear her voice in his head even when she wasn't speaking through the headband. `It must be her thoughts.' he realized. He could hear the hanyou's too, that's how he kept up so well in the battle. He always knew what his next move would be. And why did that girl look so dad-gum familiar?

The questions buzzing around in his brain tired him out and he fell into a restless sleep, dreaming dreams of far off places with odd tools. It definitely wasn't the world he was living in. How could he have dreamed this up? I mean, what was it? The future?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Le Village*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Our saddened group of travelers were in Kaede's hut talking about the next course of action until the wee hours of the morning. It went like this:

Miroku : We have to stay calm and make a plan.

Kagome : (is totally pissed after crying so much) But we don't even know where she is! How can we make a plan when we don't know where she is?

Inuyasha : (rightfully disgruntled and therefore not in his right mind) Shut up wench. We'll think of something.

Shippo : (while crying) You big bully! Don't talk to Kagome that way!

Inuyasha : Shut it, runt.

Shippo : *raspberries him* You're just mad because it was Kikyo that took her so you can't get her back. It's just like when she took the shards all over again, Inuyasha. You're not a very good leader.

Inuyasha : *shakes fist* Why you.....

Kagome : (in order to stop the oncoming fight) It's okay Shippo-chan. I'm used to it. Besides, we're not getting anything done by fighting each other. Let's just think about this logically like Miroku said and make a plan to.....get.....Kaede.....back. *bursts into tears*

Sango : It'll be okay Kagome.

Kagome : No it won't!! If only I had been faster and not so weak-

Inuyasha : (shocked that she could be thinking that, he cuts her off.) Kagome don't even THINK something like that. You're anything but weak. It's not your fault she's evil. (`It's mine.' He added silently)

Other's thoughts : What is going on with those two?

Kagome : Don't say it like that Inuyasha. It's no one's fault she is the way she is. *quick exhale of breath* Why don't we just focus on finding her first and then decide on a course of action?

Miroku : Sounds like a plan to me. We'll start tomorrow.

Inuyasha : Wait. What?

Miroku : Tomorrow we start looking for clues as to Kikyo's whereabouts. After we find her, then we'll decide what to do. Okay with everyone?

Everyone : *sporadic nods of agreement*

Inuyasha : (sarcastically) Great. We have a plan. Now go to sleep.

Everyone said "Goodnight" and settled in for bed, but one of them was still awake with the morning light, thinking on his situation.

Inuyasha laid on top of the hut, reviewing what had happened these last two weeks. It was almost impossible to imagine. He'd found a baby with Kagome, looked after her, became almost overprotective of her, spent time in the future with her and Kagome (not to mention Kagome's family and that whole fiasco), kissed Kagome (which was very nice), found out from his brother of all people what Kaede was, confessed his undying love to Kagome.....and it all went downhill from there. Now Kaede is gone, kidnapped by his former love, and he doesn't know if they'll get her back.

`How could I have developed such strong instincts for someone so fast?' He thought in amazement. `It's almost like with Kagome.' He got somber when he reflected on the fight that happened earlier. `Damn. If this Kosimu guy stays as strong as he is, either I'LL have to get stronger or.....I'll have to ask Sesshomaru for help. Ugh. Who'd want to do that?'

The sun peeked over the horizon and Inuyasha began to hear the sounds of the village waking up. In the hut below him, his friends began to stir. He didn't have to be in there to know what was happening. It was always the same.

Miroku would wake up first. He'd look around and settle his gaze on Sango for a few moments. Stupid letch thought no one was looking. HA! Then he'd walk over to her and his hand would hover over her face like he was afraid to touch her or something.

Sango's taijiya training was so ingrained in her that this would wake her up. If Miroku didn't hurry away, she'd slap him and commence with the customary shouting. If he did, she'd go through her morning wake up routine. First she'd barely open her eyes, then she'd yawn loudly, next was the eye rub and stretch (which Miroku liked a lot) and finally she'd sit up and look to see who else was up.

If Sango slaps Miroku, it wakes Kagome up. Kagome always wakes up the same too. She cracks open her eyes, slaps someone if they're hovering (he found that out the hard way), sits up, yawns into her hand, stretches out the kinks from sleeping on the floor, smiles at him (usually), wakes up Shippo, and gets ready for the day. If Sango doesn't slap the pervert, the sounds of them getting ready wake her up soon enough and she goes through the same process.

Shippo's routine is different every day. Sometimes he wakes up when Kagome wakes him, sometimes he sleeps until they're ready to go. It all depends on his mood. But he always hugs Kagome once he does awaken, much to Inuyasha's displeasure.

Inuyasha heard someone get up and a soft, staggered scuffling across the floor, kind of like they were having trouble walking. But of course everyone does when they first wake up in the morning. Next a resounding slap.

He decided to get off the roof and into the hut. It was time for Kagome to wake up and he always loved it when he was there to receive her morning smile. Her eyes are a darker blue and her hair is a mess. Her lips seem pinker and he loves the way her entire face just relaxes into the smile.

He made it inside just in time to see Miroku scrape himself off the floor and rub his cheek. But this morning Sango did something unusual.

She started apologizing to the monk.

`Must've been the kiss.' he thought. `They change everything.'

He looked over at Kagome to see she was at the yawn stage in her waking. She unsuccessfully tried to hide it behind her hand. Next she stretched as if trying to touch the ceiling from the floor. Inuyasha watched with thinly veiled interest as her pajamas clung to the curve of her breast and crinkled around her hips. He might not verbalize his appreciation, but that didn't mean it wasn't there. She stopped stretching and began to look around the hut. The first one to catch her eye was Inuyasha. And, wonder of wonders, he got the first morning smile. He couldn't help but to smile back. She woke up Shippo, but he went back to sleep.

`Ah well, it's better that way.' He decided. `Easier to make decisions without his yappin.'

Sango was making it up to Miroku in the way only a woman can.....

Breakfast.

She had said sorry for slapping him, which shocked him to no end, and was now making an excellent breakfast. She really was a great cook. Another point was added to Miroku's scale of affection for her. He had thought she couldn't get any better many times and was proven wrong. She was the perfect woman for him and the sooner she came to her senses and figured this little fact out, the sooner he could ask her to.....um.....do.....something important.

`Can I really be thinking of marriage? Again? Me? The perverted monk and the demon slayer having children? Living in love? Together forever?' His eyes danced with mischief. `Of course I am.' He laughed quietly to himself. `Townsfolk beware. The world is going to be a much different place when our children come along.'

He had a goofy grin on his face until Inuyasha and Kagome came over and he remembered what today's agenda entailed. Kaede was missing and it was a serious affair. He couldn't become distracted from his duty of finding her with thoughts of his possible future with Sango. No matter how tempting it was to forget everything else but her.

"Okay girls," Miroku started off. Inuyasha growled and Miroku finished his sentence hurriedly, "and boy." A glare was received from the hanyou that he decided to just shrug off. "Where do we start?"

"We could cover more ground if we split up." Sango stated. "Two of us could go East and two could go West. Each group could question the villages they find there. Then we could meet back here and decide if we should do the same thing for North and South." She looked to the others for confirmation of the plan she had mulled over all night.

Okay, so maybe she mulled over it for all of five minutes then thought of how'd they split up. Of course it would be Kagome with Inuyasha and herself with Miroku. That line of thought sprung her to what could possibly happen when they were alone. Maybe they could have another date? Maybe they could share another kiss? And on her thoughts went, spiraling into the abyss of pure fantasy until she fell into a contented sleep, filled with thoughts of her Houshi.

Her thoughts were broken by the object of her affection. "Sounds like a good idea Sango." He smiled at her. "How should we do this?" `As if I don't already know. There's no way Inuyasha would let anyone but himself go with Kagome-sama. That leaves me and my darling Sango to go alone. Hehehehehe.'

Kagome couldn't help but imagine the possibilities of this arrangement. Her and Inuyasha. Inuyasha and her. Alone in the wilderness. `Should I really question him about the mating issue? What if it turns him away?' She glanced over to her side at him. He looked pissed. `Yeesh! How does he always manage to look mad? Even when no one's done anything. Maybe I shouldn't bring up mating. I mean he just admitted he loves me. But he hasn't said anything about it since. Was he just saying what I wanted to hear to get me to stay here? Or did he really mean it?' She looked at her lap. While she WAS still worried over Kaede, she knew they would get her back. The situation didn't seem as dire as it had yesterday. They were making plans to retrieve her from psycho bitch, and pretty good ones too.

Unfortunately, they couldn't kill Kikyo without giving her peace first. Therein lies her dilemma. No peace for Kikyo equals Hell for the undead miko. Hell equals no reincarnation. No reincarnation equals no Kagome. It was simple math. To her at least.

Inuyasha was still mad at the monk for the `boy' comment. He was a man dammit! He was going to have a mate soon and that meant he was a man. Well, grown up. Adult. Not boy. Yeah. That's right. Speaking of men..... `Grrrr. Damn that guy. That ninja took away my only opportunity to talk to her about us. But we ARE going to be out in the wilds together until we find a lead on Kikyo. *grimace* It still hurts to think of her as the bad guy, but that's what she is. She has stolen something very precious to me and has done many other evils to Kagome and myself. She must be stopped.'

Everyone was in their own worlds and didn't answer the monk's long forgotten question. He cleared his throat, effectively snapping everyone out of their seeming stupor, and repeated himself. "How will we split up?"

Inuyasha snorted. "Keh. Stupid question monk. Of course we'll split up into the most effective teams. Me and Kagome will go West and you and Sango will go East." He looked at all their faces. No one seemed to question his authority, but just to be sure....."How does that sound to you?"

"Fine."

"Good."

"Terrific."

"I'm confused."

Everyone turned to look at the newest voice to enter their conversation. Shippo had finally decided to join the realm of the living and was blinking the sleep from his eyes as he looked to each person for an answer. Obviously he had missed something important.

Kagome lifted him into her lap when he waddled over. He snuggled into her light embrace and ignored the growl he could hear from Inuyasha.

Kagome took it upon herself to fill him in. "We're just discussing how we'll go about getting Kaede back from Kikyo."

"Oh. So who am I going with?" He looked at her with those big, trusting blue eyes and she was stunned at the reality that they hadn't even figured in Shippo for this mission.

"Well. Um. You see Shippo." Kagome stumbled through her broken sentences until Inuyasha cut her off with a few gruff words of his own.

"You're staying here brat." He declared. Better that he look like the bad guy than Kagome.

Shippo just gaped at him. "Why?!" He demanded. "Why can't I go get my little sister?"

Inuyasha made to grab his tail, but Kagome beat him to it. He overcompensated and fell to the floor as she gently pulled Shippo into the shelter of her arms and turned her back to him as she made an excuse. A plausible excuse. But an excuse all the same. "Shippo. It'll just be easier without you there to worry about."

His eyes filled with tears at her gently put rejection. How could he ever prove himself to them if he never got a chance to be brave? "I understand. I'll stay with Kaede and help her get herbs and junk. *sniffle* You go kick Kikyo for me, okay Kagome?"

Kagome took a hesitant glance behind her at Inuyasha for his reaction to Shippo's heartfelt request. He didn't seem to have anything to say about it. "Of course I will Shippo-chan. You be a good helper for Kaede, okay?"

"Hai."

She turned back to the room at large and met each gaze with a determined fire in her eyes. "Let's go get my baby back."

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Kikyo and all her evilness*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Kikyo was pushing Kosimu to the brink of exhaustion in order to reach her destination as soon as possible.

Naraku's castle.

While she still didn't like him too much, it was a great place to train Kaede into what she would ultimately become. With the right teacher naturally. His fortress was almost impenetrable. With it's protective barrier, few people could find it. And if they did it was extremely hard to break through said barrier, unless your name was Kikyo.....

It was the perfect place to set her plan in motion. What WAS her plan you say?

It was simple :

Train Kaede until she was ready to beat Inuyasha and Kagome. (duh) Then take down Naraku and drag Inuyasha to hell so he could suffer like she did everyday as she relived his betrayal. Not the one instigated by Naraku, she knew what really happened that day, but the one where he forgot about her and started loving that stupid copy of herself.

It was a minor setback that they had found her first. But with all the resources available to her at Naraku's castle it wouldn't be hard to rid the girl of those awful memories.

"We are here mistress." Kosimu said in the monotone that she'd become accustomed to.

Kikyo looked up from her reverie and saw that they were, in fact, at the fortress. "Very good Kosimu. Put the girl down." He could've grinned. His muscles hurt so much from carrying her all this way that it would feel like heaven to put her down.

Kaede had been in a mainly unconscious state since Kikyo's blast of power to her face. The Dead One had made sure she didn't kill the girl, but instead kept her from struggling too much by shoving more miko power into her small body whenever she seemed to rouse from the purification-induced slumber. So, when Kosimu put her down, all she did was lay there.

Kosimu looked down at her. She looked like death warmed over. His eyes barely hinted at concern for her well-being before they went back to the impenetrable veil of soulless-ness.

"She's not dead. Merely sleeping." Kikyo rolled her eyes and muttered when she saw Kosimu's thickly veiled concern. `So he isn't beyond emotion of his own. I'll have to fix that.'

Kosimu's face reflected none of the alarm he felt when he heard her thoughts. It wasn't the fact that she knew he had emotions. It was that she thought they had to be fixed. `So emotions are displeasing to my mistress?'

Kikyo walked up to the front gates and revealed her presence to the entire fortress. All too soon, Mr. Monkey's guards were at the gate questioning her intentions to find if they were pleasing enough for their master to admit her in.

"Who goes there?" the guard yelled towards them.

"The priestess, Kikyo." Kosimu answered obediently.

"State your business." The second guard barked.

Kikyo placed a hand on Kosimu's arm, silently telling him to let her answer. "I wish to speak to your lord. I believe I can sense him inside."

The guards seemed to zone out for a few seconds as their eyes glazed over and they listened to an inner voice calling for them to not disturb the miko as she came inside.

"You may enter." They said simultaneously and with no emotion as they opened the doors to let her in.

Kikyo walked through the huge wooden doors, Kosimu carrying Kaede once more as he followed behind her. She kept going towards where she felt Naraku. When she finally found the room he was staying in, he was already up and planning what he'd say to his infatuation.

"Ah, Kikyo. I didn't expect to see you so soon." He looked past her at the pet he gave her. "I trust the ninja is to your liking?"

"He has done very well against Inuyasha and his bitch." Why did it just feel like her heart pulled as she admitted that? Surely she didn't still harbor feelings besides hatred for him. Did she?

"So, he's already seen a fight." His eyes narrowed as he noticed what Kosimu was carrying. "What is that thing?"

"A demon child." Kikyo answered simply. "I was hoping I could use your facilities to train her to beat the bastard. `And again. Why?' Would I be permitted?"

Naraku seemed to consider it for a moment. He wasn't considering turning her away of course, it was already assured by her mere presence before him that she could stay. But what would the advantages be to letting her do as she pleased in his castle?

"I suppose it would be fine. I'll have someone show you to your rooms." He mentally called forth a formless ball of darkness to show the small company to their rooms.

As Kosimu turned to follow Kikyo out, Naraku held him back. The ninja looked to the thief turned hanyou turned youkai and lifted an eyebrow in question. Naraku seemed to stare at the mind controlling headband on Kosimu's head for a little long.

"I see you have on one of my headbands. Kikyo put it on you right?" Kosimu gave a barely perceptible nod. Naraku took no notice of this and went on as if he hadn't answered. "I wonder where she got it. I never gave her one." He smirked. "She must have sticky fingers." He looked at the human and found that his attention was elsewhere. "She's calling to you isn't she? Of course she is. You aren't right behind her." He waved a hand in dismissal. "Go on. Find your mistress. Although, I wish to speak with you later."

Kosimu bowed and turned to leave the room. Even if he must hurry to find his mistress, it was still this man's castle and respect was to be given. Naraku called forth another ball to lead Kosimu to his room. He followed the dot to his quarters and found Kikyo was already waiting inside.

"Where have you been?" She ordered.

Kosimu quickly told her of his conversation with Naraku so as not to aggravate her further. She listened to it all with growing disdain. Her face set in it's usual stony hatred as the room seemed to drop fifty degrees.

"I see." Her voice dripped with scorn. "He seems to think that I would keep his weak spell on this band." She chuckled as she lightly touched the familiar yellow bubble in the white band on his head, absently noting her name on the band in a slightly off-white tone. "Fool! As if I would leave something of this import to his inadequate skills." She turned to go to her own room. "I don't want you talking to him. Ever!" She looked over her shoulder and sent a minor glare at him. "And put the girl down in my room. She'll be staying with me for the duration of our stay here." She turned forward again and left the room, leading him to hers. "Her new mommy." A smirk crept across her face at the thought.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Inu and the crew*~*~*~*~*~*~*

The four adults split up as soon as they divided the provisions for their journeys. Shippo, even though he agreed to stay behind and help Kaede, clung to Kagome in a desperate attempt to get her to change her mind and let him go with them.

The kit finally let go. But only after Inuyasha had pried him from Kagome's leg and growled a warning in his face through clenched and bared teeth.

The two groups promised to meet up in three weeks to discuss what they'd found, since they didn't know how far away she'd gone. She could be in the next village over. She could be in the tenth village over. And they needed all that time to travel there and back.

Inuyasha left the hut with a gruff "See ya" over his shoulder. Kagome took a little more time in her goodbyes. Shippo got a tight squeeze and a "Be good for Kaede." She set him down and patted his head. Sango got a bear hug, wink and a quiet "I'll tell you about whatever happens." Miroku got a weary glance and "See ya later," as she left the hut.

She ran to catch up with Inuyasha.

They headed West.

Closer to the domain of Sesshomaru.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Back at the Hut*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Once Inuyasha and Kagome had left the hut, Miroku and Sango went to the East on Kirara. The ride was mostly uneventful onboard the fire-cat. Miroku gripped his staff, which was braced against Sango's waist. He wished it could be his hands and not the staff touching her waist, but those thoughts would better be left to think of once they were on the ground. He'd had too many incidents of falling off the cat when he'd let THOSE ones run wild.

They followed the path of the sun in the east and retreated from it as it went west. They stopped only for needed breaks: when Kirara got too tired, when they had to eat, when they had to `go', and when they had to sleep. The first village they hit had no leads. As did the second and third.

Both were beginning to get antsy. They hadn't had a lead anywhere, the second day was almost up, and Kirara was starting to tire of the constant demand that she carry two full grown people. Sango decided to let her loyal companion rest for a day or two and carried her as she and Miroku walked to the next village. It was slower going, leaving plenty of time for play.

Miroku glanced over at Sango. `How can someone be so beautiful when they're sweaty from hiking through wilderness?' He pondered this question until he noticed a slight movement from Sango.

As soon as she felt someone looking at her she cautiously turned her head in that direction. Before she could catch him, he looked to the ground. Her brow furrowed as she looked at all of her surroundings. `I could've sworn someone was looking at me.' She looked back to the trail ahead and shrugged.

Miroku looked back over at his angel. `How does she do it? So many heartbreaks and still she is strong. I've only seen her cry once, maybe twice. It's not good to let all that build up inside oneself. Perhaps she will allow me to demonstrate the art of meditation to her. Maybe I could show her other ways to let out aggravations.' As his calm mask was torn by a lecherous grin, he mentally hit himself. `UGH! Bad thoughts. Well, good thoughts. But SO bad at the same time.' He decided to let all matters drop and focus on the task at hand. `Must get back Kaede. But. Slaying armor. So. Tight. Clings to. Luscious hips. Swaying. Back and forth. Must. Break. Eye. Contact.'

It was no use. Sango turned around and saw him staring at her butt. Again. *sigh* `Why do I even try?' An evil, un-Sango-like thought entered her mind. A slow, conniving grin spread over her face as she thought of how to get him to either stop it forever, or kiss her again. Either way she'd be happy. She started pivoting a little with each step, making her rear all the more appealing to the monk.

His hand started to twitch. `Does she even know what she's doing? How wonderfully distracting that is? I don't think so.' He valiantly controlled himself, until he could stand no more. His hand began to form a cup and reach out to grasp the hypnotic illusion that was Sango's ass.

Her Miroku-sense kicked in and she raised a hand to slap him before she remembered that this was her plan. It would not do for the whole thing to be blown to smithereens before she had a chance to get gratification.

She lowered her arm and slowed her brisk walk. Distantly, she heard his sigh of relief. She smirked. `Don't be so quick, my dear monk. I'm not done with you yet.'

She turned when he had caught up with her. They were standing toe to toe, nose to chest, and chin to head. She looked up into his eyes and stood on her tip-toes. He was somewhat shocked that she was this close. Her breath feathering his face as he waited for her next move. His heart sped in anticipation of what she had in mind.

He didn't have to wait long.

She smiled, winked, and began walking again.

`What was THAT?!' He thought heatedly. `She looked like she was going to kiss me and then she denies me of what should be mine!' He looked at the woman ahead of him.

"Well that won't do." He muttered as he caught up with her.

Gently he grasped her upper arm. She stopped, hid her smile at the success of her plan, and looked up at him questioningly. His angry gaze met hers and she was surprised at the heat behind that look. Her stomach jumped as she recognized what that look truly was. It was the same one he had given her after their first kiss. True. It was hidden behind anger, but it was still there. Her eyes grew and her breathing became staggered as his head leaned in closer.

Kirara saw what was happening between the two. `He'd better pay up for this later. My stash is gone.' She let out a grunt as she leapt from Sango's arms. `Stupid fox. I know he found it.'

Sango barely registered the missing weight in her arms. Miroku was too close to meeting her expectant lips for her to question what was going on around her. He drew her closer. Her body flush against his. Every part that touched was energized. Blood rushed to one place and her stomach dropped as she prepared for the full force of the promise held behind his look.

And then he let her go.

If Sango could've growled, she would've. `Stupid monk. He's stealing my plan!'

Miroku turned away from Sango and began leading the way. Inwardly he smiled. `It's all coming together now. She wants me. I want her. And now we both truly know it. That night wasn't just a heat of the moment thing. Could I really have a shot with her?'

*~*~*~*~*~*~*Inu and Kag*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

They walked away from the village intent on finding their `daughter'.

"The nearest village is a day's walk from here." Inuyasha informed Kagome. "We can make it there by midnight at this pace. I want to be there by dusk. Come on." He set a brisk pace that had Kagome slipping behind in no time at all.

He looked back for her after he heard the footfalls behind him diminish. She was quite a few feet away. "What's the matter? Too fast for ya?"

She glared at him and ran to catch back up. `Stupid hanyou. Thinks he's so much better than me just because he has all this extra strength. Who knows where it comes from. All he eats is Instant Ramen. Humph! I'll show him.' She kept up this pace, with this thinking, for all of five minutes. Then she began to tire again.

Inuyasha watched her display with open interest. She was so beautiful when she was angry. After a few moments, he took pity and caught up with her, which wasn't near as hard for him as it was for her. He looked at her profile and smiled a tiny smile.

She was just too cute.

He looked forward again and absently said, "Get on."

She was rudely broken from her thoughts of torture for a certain dog- boy. "What?"

"You heard me." He smiled. She could hear the amusement in his voice. "Get on." He stopped and offered his back to her.

Gingerly she climbed on. `He wouldn't drop the woman he claims he loves just to prove a point, would he?' It wasn't soon before she fell into the protected enthusiasm induced by riding him hard. Giving herself into the air rushing by and the feel of muscles tightening and releasing below her, she melded her body around him, as usual, shirking the uncertainties swimming in her head to mull over at a later time.

He sped through the forest, weaving between trees, bouncing on limbs, leaping into the air and floating softly to the ground again. He reveled in the familiar weight on his back. It always felt so wrong when he ran like this without her there. Her hands wrapped around his shoulders and her legs around his waist. It was like being in a Kagome cocoon. Maybe when he emerged he'd be a beautiful inu-youkai. *insert dreamy background and sigh* Okaaaaaaaaaay. Off subject.

He ran all day and only stopped for the necessities (as mentioned last scene). They hit the village a little before noon. The villagers were wary of this odd couple and were hesitant to talk to them at all. But Kagome's charming personality won over even the coldest heart in a matter of moments and soon they were talking like a bunch of stool-pigeons.

They had no information whatsoever on the whereabouts of `Lady Kikyo'. But she found out that Old Man Watashi was suffering from a puss-y welt on his heel and that Lady Suzato's son was going to be a father in a few days.

It was pretty much a waste, but they all thought she could help and would want to know, for some unforeseen reason. Kagome just had that affect on people. Whatever it was that had made the people talk, helped. Because of it she managed to find them a nice, clean hut to stay the night in. Granted, it wasn't as nice as some of the one's Miroku had gotten them into, but it was pretty good for her first try.

They followed the lady of the house to their room.

"So, do you want to see my son now or tomorrow?" She asked.

Kagome put on a concerned face. "Could you tell me what he is feeling again ma'am?"

The woman looked to be in deep thought as Inuyasha leaned over and whispered in Kagome's ear, "You've spent too much time watching Miroku do this haven't you?"

She looked up at him and smiled "Just a bit."

The woman seemed to remember all her son's ailments and began telling them to Kagome in detail. "Well, first he had a headache. Then he got the sneezes. Next was this horrible cough. After that he got a fever and was so dizzy he couldn't even walk. He said all his muscles were too weak to hold him up. He could barely lift his arm. It's just terrible. I couldn't even touch him because he said it hurt to touch his skin. He hasn't been able to help in the fields for two days because of it. I hope you can help him Lady Kagome. Our healer died of old age last spring and no one has been willing to stay and help us with our ailments and illnesses."

"I'm sure I can find some way to help." Kagome assured the old woman.

"Oh thank you miko-sama." The old woman bowed low. "I knew you could help. Would you like to see him now or later?" She straightened and looked at Kagome sheepishly, almost ashamed at her eagerness. It made her sound so rude.

"Now would be just fine." Kagome smiled. "I'm sure Inuyasha could find something to do while I see to this."

"Oh no." Inuyasha protested. "I'm not letting you walk around in some house, in an unknown town, at night, to see some boy. I'm going with you and that's that." He nodded to prove his point. His woman wasn't going to see any male without him.

Kagome sighed in frustration. "Fine." She said through gritted teeth. "You can come. But don't get in my way." She turned to the old woman who had watched it all with a knowing grin. "Lead the way Yataki-sama."

The older woman turned from the bickering pair and led the way to her son's room. A boy of about twelve years lay on a futon by the window. It was opened to let the night's breeze cool his face as he slept. The woman tried to wake him so he could tell Kagome what was wrong, but he wouldn't wake up.

Kagome gave him a once over and knelt by his bed. Cautiously, she reached out a hand to check his temperature and breathing. He flinched away at contact, but from what she could tell, he was burning up.

Kagome swallowed. "Leave us. Please." She needed room to think about this. If it was the same as the sickness Souta had last summer then she had the right medicine for it. But if it was something else.....

Yataki bowed out the door and closed the shoji screen behind her. Inuyasha turned to Kagome and took in her drawn features. "Do you really know how to cure this?"

"I don't know." She answered quietly. "All his symptoms sound like what Souta caught last year. But I don't know if it was around in this time period. I need to check him. But he won't let me touch him." She hung her head in her hands. "This is a horrible mess I've gotten myself into. If I can't cure him.....I don't know what I'll do."

"Well. What did your doctors do to fix Souta?" Inuyasha asked helpfully.

"Ibuprofen." Kagome told him as his mouth twitched up at the name. "The doctor said it was a viral infection that would leave in about five days and to take 650 mg of Ibuprofen every time the symptoms came back."

"So try that." He groused. He didn't like not understanding what she was talking about. What the hell was a milligram? "Anything would help him." He jerked a thumb at the boy.

"I suppose." Kagome said reluctantly. "It would take away his headache at least."

Inuyasha looked at her confusedly. "Yeah, okay."

"Ibuprofen is a painkiller." She informed him. "I guess we could try that and see how he is in the morning." She walked over to the pack she had set down in the corner when she walked into the room.

"Alright then." Inuyasha agreed. "Give him the goods and let's go."

"Why the rush Inuyasha?" Kagome slanted a look at him as she bent to get the medicine from her bag. "You wouldn't want to get me in bed that bad would you?" Her eyes widened and she gasped as she realized what she'd just said. She quickly straightened and looked for his reaction.

He was shocked that she had actually guessed. But a gentlemanly blush spread at the implications. Did she mean bed? Or `bed'?

After an uncomfortable silence, the two looked away from each other with a silent understanding to dismiss the question. Kagome found the Ibuprofen and made the boy take it with a swig of bottled water. It took some coaxing to get him to actually swallow the pills with the water, but he finally got it down.

"I hope that works." Kagome sighed. "If it does I'll leave some Ibuprofen with his family. It shouldn't be too long before he's over it if he's been sick two days already."

Inuyasha decided to stick with the non-verbal answers to avoid any more embarrassing slips that night. So all she got was a grunt to say he heard her. They walked back to their room. Inuyasha picked up the pack as they walked out of the boy`s room. The house Kagome had gotten them was comfortable and had that lived-in feeling. Unfortunately, it WAS incredibly worn in and very small, intended only for use by the one family and a guest passing through.

So they had to share a room. And bed.

It wouldn't be so bad.

Would it?

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

OMG!! I am soooooooooo sorry! But I have very good excuses to hold off the attacks on my person. *ahem*

#1 My internet got shut off and the library won't let me access mediaminer.org.

#2 My computer died. Again. And those asses at Staples Service Center said that the coverage policy I bought won't allow me to get it fixed so I have to take it somewhere in town and pay through the nose for it. So I can't get to my files for this story and have the good versions up. So this is my "converted from the backup files at ff.net chapters". Kill me later. I think it turned out alright.

#3 No one but Cryxxy-chan would take me up on the offer to post for me here. Bless her with the blessings of a thousand lifetimes. So nice of her. Everyone say thanks.

And finally #4. I don't really have a number four. I just don't like uneven numbers, so number four is bi;as,tgb;aisnfi.asihoud. And that's why I couldn't update here.

So sorry again. Good news is though, I have at least five chapters ready to be posted here next week. I just have to run out of town for a HUGE acting competition that could change my entire life this weekend. So wish me luck. And thakns for being patient and not sending death threats. Bye.

I've run out of witty quips to put here as an incentive for you to review.

So just R&R.

Please?

It would be ever so lovely.

And make me feel better about not being able to land a boyfriend.

Dang it.

Now I've got myself all vindictive and crap.

Damn males of my species.....