InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ Guilty Hero ❯ Little Lion Man, Part 1 ( Chapter 46 )

[ Y - Young Adult: Not suitable for readers under 16 ]

As usual, I begin with an apology for my tardiness in the update.  I have no real excuse, so I am just going to gloss over the delay and move on to other matters. :)

Thanks to two very kind people, GH has been nominated in two categories for the IY Fanguild!  Yay!  So, if you have yet to vote, please consider GH.

Next, I know I have been very uneven with this, but in order to post as quickly as possible, I did not send it out to my usual number of betas.  I apologize to those who were expecting a chapter to sift through and correct, and I hope to get the next chapter going in a more timely manner.  Thanks for being patient with me. :)

Well, enough talk for now.  On with the chapter!

Guilty Hero

Chapter 45: Little Lion Man, Part 1  



Silence resonated throughout the cavern as the two figures stood in front of the swirling purple orb.  Kanna waited quietly, unmoving.  She did not take heed of Kagura, who was fidgeting off to the side.  Time had stretched on for quite a while since their master had last spoken, making Kagura anxious.  She could not claim to know Naraku's thoughts, but she did understand from experience that his silence meant he was plotting.  No good ever came from that.

She tucked a stray strand of hair behind her ear, once again shifting restlessly from foot to foot.  What was on the camera that Naraku was viewing?  It had to be important.  Kanna had flown rapidly into the cavern, unannounced, and had passed her camera through the orb without delay.  Kagura had never seen the girl move so quickly.

“Hm.”  Naraku's sigh seemed overly loud when it broke the silence.  Kanna's camera slowly emerged from the sphere, grasped in a blue-skinned hand with vicious claws.  Kagura suppressed a grimace at the sight, still unused to his constantly changing appearance despite her long stay in this prison.

“So, Juromaru and Kageromaru are dead.”  Naraku's tone held a strange blend of surprise, anger, and bemusement.  “I must admit, this is unexpected.”

“Dead?” Kagura repeated in disbelief.  She normally refrained from speaking in Naraku's presence, but after so many days of sheer boredom, this scrap of news piqued her interest.  “But who killed them?  I thought they were the strongest of your offspring.”

“Not necessarily,” Naraku replied darkly.  Kagura felt a shiver go down her spine, and she knew he had turned his attention on her.  “However, I did not think the Order had any member strong enough to defeat them.  It appears I was wrong.  A mere human woman is the one to blame.”

“Hmph.”  Crossing her arms, Kagura glared off to the side.  “Sango?  I suppose the girl might have more power than I give her credit for, but even so, those two should have been able to crush her.”

“It was not Sango.”  Naraku sounded amused by her reaction.  “That would be an impossibility.  For you see, Kageromaru and Juromaru were purified out of existence.”

Frowning, Kagura took a step forward, even more intrigued.  “Purified?  But who could have...”

“It would seem that this 'Kagome' has been hiding her true powers from us.  It took but one blow each to obliterate those two.  And she clearly still had energy untapped.  This is... a most interesting development.”

Kagura saw the shadowy figure inside the orb shift as he focused his attention on the other girl in the room.

“Kanna.  Return to your surveillance duties.  Report back to me once a day.  With our watchdogs on the apartment gone, I must know of any moves our friends at the Order intend to make.  I have no doubt that, with this victory, they will attempt to reclaim their headquarters soon enough.”

With a short bow, Kanna turned and noiselessly left the room.

“And now, Kagura...”

The wind-witch hesitantly stepped forward, curious at her master's tone.  He sounded almost as though he was considering her for an assignment.  She could hardly hope to be allowed outside, but she could not resist pondering the thought.

“It would seem you have another chance to prove yourself useful to me.”

“What can I do, Lord Naraku?” she asked, trying very hard to keep the eagerness out of her voice.

A low chuckled rolled over her, making her shudder.  “I need you to pay a hidden visit to our dear little half-breed.  See if he is almost ready.”

There was a sinking feeling in Kagura's stomach.  “Ready for what?” she asked slowly.

When Naraku replied, his voice was so full of menace that she trembled.  “Ready to be crushed.”

“S-so soon, my lord?” she asked shakily.  “Are you sure you are strong enough?”  It was not that she held any feelings of affection toward Inu-Yasha, but the implications of the hell Naraku wished to bring down upon the hanyou were bad enough to make anyone feel sorry for him.

“It is true, my body is not complete yet.  However...”  Suddenly, a long tentacle shot out of the orb and snapped around Kagura's neck.  Choking, she scrabbled at the rough skin as he lifted her off the stone floor.  “I will bring that pup to his knees.  And you...”  The tentacle tightened briefly for one moment before sending her crashing into the wall and then slithering back into the orb.  “...will not doubt me again.”

She gasped for breath, rubbing at her bruised skin while her lungs enjoyed the ease of breathing once more.

“Do you understand your orders, Kagura?”

Climbing slowly to her feet with her hand against the wall to keep steady, she nodded silently.

“Then you are dismissed.  Be gone.”

She fled the chamber without delay.

“Mm...”  Kagome slowly stirred under the thick mound of blankets.  Sleep had come quickly and had clung to her like a heavy shroud during the night.  Rising from it proved to be more difficult than usual, but she didn't bother trying to hurry.  The assignment had been long, arduous, and taxing.  A little extra rest in order to recover would hurt nothing.  Besides, with Sango and Miroku both laid up with their injuries, it was doubtful they would get to work so early in the day.

Yawning, Kagome finally pushed her sore body upright, enduring the necessary pops and cracks as everything settled into place.  Brushing her tousled hair from her eyes, she glanced blearily at the pile of blankets at her side and smiled.  Inu-Yasha had prepared the bed for her the night prior.  It had been a little messy and a bit lumpy, but the effort was apparent and she had appreciated the thought.  

I think he was more exhausted than me,  she reckoned, remembering how she had found him in a dead sleep on the couch when she had gone to thank him.  Shoving her feet into her slippers, she eased out of bed and padded into the living room.  She quietly snuck up to check her patient.

Inu-Yasha had not moved an inch during the night, which was unusual.  Knowing of his tendency to burrow under the covers, Kagome was surprised to see the red afghan was still gently tucked around him, a part of her handiwork from the night before.  One arm hung limply off the couch while his cheek was resting against the back cushions.  His expression was smooth and calm, which was also an odd sight; a pinched frown was his typical expression when he slept.  She realized that he must be in a  very deep sleep in order to be so relaxed.

Pausing to brush a strand of hair free from his face, she then left him alone and went into the kitchen to begin her morning routine.

As she filled a mug with water and placed it in the microwave, she let out a soft sigh.  Poor Inu-Yasha.  He really had it rough last night.  She glanced at the coffee table in the living room where his two whiskey glasses sat, dry as a bone.  Guilt tugged at her.  It had been so obvious how ill Inu-Yasha allowed himself to get in order to be there for her.  He had been unable to sleep for over a day, and was under a great deal of stress worrying about her.  Unnecessarily, she added in her head, punching the button on the microwave.  It was flattering, but with so much pressure on him already, adding to his concerns was doing nothing for him.

“Hmm...”  But what could she do about it?  How could she remove that stressor for him?  Easing into a chair at the table, she absently tore her tea bag out of its paper.  If only he could have seen her in action the night before.  Surely by showing off her skills, he would at least be convinced she could take care of herself.  He'll probably still worry no matter what, she thought, a smile tugging at her lips.  But at least he wouldn't be so stressed as to make himself sick.

The smile slipped away the more she thought.  The only way for Inu-Yasha to see her work was to go on an assignment with her.  And that was an impossibility.  If Inu-Yasha got involved in the war in any way at all, he would no doubt be sucked right back in.  The thought alone made her shudder.  Any progress he had made would be destroyed, and she couldn't bear to let that happen.  

I wonder... I wonder if Sango and Miroku could stage a fake assignment for us.  She sat up straighter when that thought popped into her head.  If they could spin some story to get Inu-Yasha to go with her on an ersatz mission, it would keep him detached but also put his mind at ease.  It was the perfect plan.  

Getting Inu-Yasha to agree to it might be difficult, though, she grimaced, rubbing her forehead.  But convincing Sango and Miroku might be even harder.  Proposing the idea to them would have to come first.  She would need their help in order to successfully pull the mission off.  Additionally, Inu-Yasha would have to be completely oblivious to the purpose of the assignment; it was possible that this would be a huge boost to his confidence and pride to be asked on a mission with her, and she didn't want to ruin that opportunity.  It was also possible that his temper would be sparked by the request.  However, the rewards outweighed her fear of his temper.

With a sigh, she leaned back in the chair.  I need to check on Sango and Miroku's wounds today.  I'll talk to them then. The sooner we get this figured out, the better.  Still, she made no move to leave.  She wanted just a few moments to drink her tea and relax before going back to work.

Feeling a bit calmer now that she had a plan in mind, Kagome was able to let her thoughts drift as she pulled her mug from the microwave.  As she dipped the tea bag into the steaming water, she cast her gaze into the living room.  A gentle smile graced her features when she noticed Inu-Yasha's foot twitch in his sleep.  Pride filled her as she thought about his accomplishment the night before.  Eight whole hours.  He is amazing.  She was genuinely surprised he had the willpower to resist his liquor for so long.

Maybe it's finally time to cut him back, she realized, staring at the two empty glasses on the coffee table.  She had delayed in lowering the amount of whiskey he was allowed per day, simply due to the great amount of pressure he had been under as of late.  With his temperamental nature and low stress threshold, she couldn't bear to put that kind of torture on him at the time.  However, now that he had proven he could handle it, she could no longer see a reason to put it off any longer.  The timing really couldn't be better.  Since he hadn't had his whiskey until so late the night before, cutting back this evening would not be quite so difficult.  

I guess that settles it, she thought, resting her chin in her hand.  It seems it's gonna be a big day for him.  I do hope he wakes up in a good mood.  Today is either going to be a huge confidence-booster for him, or it's going to thoroughly piss him off.  She took a sip of her tea.  I think I'll just let him sleep for now.  No need to rush into this.

Pulling up to the curb outside Sango and Miroku's apartment complex, Kagome waited a moment or two after she shut the engine off.  Slowly scanning the area, she let out a soft sigh when a perfectly normal scene greeted her.  A few people were walking briskly down the sidewalk, clearly in too much of a hurry to pay any attention to her.  The weak rays of sunshine that broke through the clouds cast a pale beam on the scraggly bushes by the building.  A dog yapped incessantly from behind the wire fence next door.  There were absolutely no suspicious figures in wide-brimmed hats and long coats standing by the streetlight and staring at everyone who passed.

Kagome smiled in satisfaction when she neither saw nor sensed any other demons in the area.  Miroku's sutras must be working.  It was amazing the amount of relief this realization brought her, as it was clear the rest of the city was no longer as safe as it had been the day before.  There was a sense of anxiety in the air as she had driven through.  Even just leaving Inu-Yasha's apartment, she had involuntarily tensed up.  Her keen senses to demonic auras warned her that the activity and energy level of the demon population was increasing.  Clearly, the destruction of the two demons the night before had caused quite a stir.

I'm so glad we had the opportunity to make a 'safe house' while the headquarters is still under Muso's control, she thought as she climbed out of the car.  It was not the first time this statement had crossed her mind, either.  She was more than pleased that her first mission with the Order had been completed with such success and had actually been of some use.

Clutching her first aid kit in her fist, she strode up the walkway and easily passed through the invisible barrier erected by the sutras.  As she climbed the stairs, she smiled politely at a few of the residents who were descending.  Unlike the people she had passed in the street who had appeared anxious and stressed, the residents nodded in reply, their disposition much calmer.  The difference in their demeanor was stark.

Shaking her head in wonder, Kagome finally stopped in front of Sango and Miroku's door and rapped sharply on it.  It was time to focus on her job.  “It's me, Kagome!” she said loudly as soon as she knocked, knowing that her superiors would probably be suspicious of visitors during this time.  Particularly with Miroku so badly wounded, she had no doubt that Sango was standing behind the door with her weapon in hand, ready at a moment's notice to protect her companion.

Sure enough, when the door cracked open, Kagome first met with the barrel of Hiraikotsu, and then Sango came into view.

After glancing both ways down the hallway, Sango finally lowered her weapon and smiled wearily at Kagome.  “I'm sorry about that, but we can't be too careful now.  Even with those sutras, we still aren't in an impenetrable fortress here.”

“Um, of course.”  A little shaken, due to the fact that she had never been greeted with a gun before, Kagome slowly stepped into the apartment.  While Sango hurriedly shut the door behind her, she walked over to Miroku, who was seated in a recliner with a card table set up over his legs.  The telephone was placed within easy reach, and paperwork was already strewn over the entire top.  “I see the two of you haven't wasted any time getting back to work,” she commented, eyeing the mess.

“Unfortunately, we can't really afford to,” Miroku replied from behind a piece of a paper he was reading.  “We have to move quickly to get in touch with all our agents who were forced to scatter when  HQ was taken over.  Things are about to get very ugly, very soon.  We need to be prepared.”

“Fair enough,” Kagome agreed, setting her first aid kit down on the coffee table.  “However...”  She tugged the paper from his hands and smiled at his surprised expression.  “In order to protect the city, you also need to recover from your wounds.  And one of the first steps of recovery is rest.”

“Ah, but I am resting,” Miroku insisted.  “See?  I'm sitting down.  I'm even reclining.  I could not possibly be more comfortable than this.”

Rolling her eyes, Kagome set about moving the card table aside so she could have a better position to give him a proper checkup.  “That's all well and good, but that doesn't change the fact that I still have to examine your wounds.  The same goes for you as well, Sango,” she added when the woman came over to pick up the paper Miroku had been studying.  “You're next, as soon as I'm done here.”

“Fine, fine,” Sango replied with a wave of her hand.  “Check away.  We still need to work, though.”

“Ah yes, speaking of work...”  As Kagome pulled on a pair of latex gloves from the kit and started to tug at Miroku's dressings, she tried to think of a way to phrase her query.  “Um, I think last night went fairly well, don't you?”

Miroku winced when Kagome gently tugged one of the gauze pads off a particularly nasty gash.  “M-minus a few wounds, yes it did.”

“But you see, there was a little problem when I got home,” she continued.  “And unfortunately, it is something that needs to be addressed, and soon.”

“A problem?” Sango repeated, glancing up sharply from the paper.  “What kind of problem?  Were you attacked at home?  Was someone waiting for you when you arrived?”
Kagome blinked in surprise at Sango's quick reaction.  “Well, Inu-Yasha was waiting for me.”

A sigh of relief escaped Sango.  “Oh, Inu-Yasha.  You weren't attacked, then?”

“Oh no, not at all.  It's just...  Well, Inu-Yasha wasn't doing so good by the time I got home.”  She took a deep breath as she continued to dress Miroku's wounds.  “It was around one o' clock, I think.  He was waiting for me in the stairwell.  And he...  He was rather sick.”

So concerned by her tone of voice, Miroku hardly blinked when Kagome dabbed at his lacerations with and alcohol swab.  “What happened?  Is he all right?  Did he have a relapse?”

“Quite the opposite, actually.”  She peered closely at his wounds, checking for infection before she moved on.  “It was withdrawal.  You see, he was so worried for my safety that he didn't dare drink a drop of alcohol until I returned home.  In case he was needed, you understand.  But the problem is that by the time I arrived, he was seven hours overdue.  He was shaky and gaunt and pale and...”  She trailed off, shaking her head in concern.  “And he was so exhausted.  He was so worried about me that he hadn't slept at all the night before.”

Sango and Miroku shared a knowing glance, a look that did not escape Kagome's notice.  With a light blush tingeing her cheeks, she continued to speak.  “While I am proud of him for having the willpower to resist for so long, the stress he was under did him no good.  In fact, if he continues to cling to his concern for me, all his progress will come screeching to a halt.  You know as well as I that the more stress he is under, the harder it is for him to keep in control.  And I don't want him to fail with his drinking because of me. I won't allow it.”

She pulled a roll of gauze out of her kit and started to cut strips off it.  “But on the other hand, I can't stop working with the Order.  That goes without saying.  So the issue is, how can we relieve the stress on Inu-Yasha, but still allow me to continue with assignments?”

“This is a quandary, indeed,” Miroku replied, raising an eyebrow.  “But, something tells me you have already thought of a solution.”

Embarrassed at how transparent she was, Kagome squirmed under his gaze.  She could even feel Sango's stare as well, adding to her discomfort.

“Um, well, I have, sort of.  That is, there is still a problem.  I'll have to have your help.”

“Well, what is it?” Sango asked, the paper she had been reading lying forgotten on the floor.  “You know we'll do anything we can to help Inu-Yasha.  Especially since he's been doing so well.”

Kagome nodded her appreciation.  “Well, the reason he is so stressed is because he is worried about me.  I don't think he realizes how strong I am.  He doesn't know I can take care of myself in a fight.  I mean, the only time he's seen me in action is when we were sent to take down that carrion crow, and all I did was hang back and shoot it when it came out.  It wasn't anything particularly impressive.  But I think that if he were to just see me work, he might understand that I am fully capable of handling myself out there.”  Glancing up, she saw that Sango and Miroku were staring silently at her, their expressions unreadable.

Clearing her throat, she continued, “And in order for him to see that, he would have to come on an assignment with me.”

Sango sighed heavily and rubbed her forehead.  “Kagome, you do know that, per Inu-Yasha's orders, we can't send him on an assignment?  That would get him involved in this, and we can't have that.  How is sending him into the thick of things going to relieve his stress?”

Kagome held her hands up in recognition.  “I know that only too well, and I don't want him to get involved either.  I was thinking if there was some sort of easy assignment I could be sent on, he might accompany me.  Something that would allow me to show off my skills, but nothing that would involve life-or-death situations.  Perhaps you might be able to come up with a fake mission.  That could serve our purpose well.”

“We can't really afford to send out our best agent on a fake mission, Kagome,” Miroku said gently.

“And that still doesn't change the fact that Inu-Yasha won't go on an assignment at all,” Sango added.  “Even if we managed to convince him to go, and even if it was a fake assignment, he would still be walking a fine line.  One slip, and he would be ensnared in this damn war.  What if the enemy found he was working with us?  He could be attacked.  And we know he isn't exactly up to snuff at the moment.”

“He's been training at the gym daily!” Kagome insisted, slapping a strip of tape down on Miroku's bandage a bit harder than intended.  “He's doing better!  And think of what a shot in the arm it would be for him, being asked to accompany me.  He would feel stronger with that alone.  I think the advantages would be worth the risks in this situation.  Inu-Yasha needs confidence and peace of mind.  He could acquire both if we played our cards right.”

“And we could send him spiraling right back down into a liquor-soaked depression if anything goes wrong,” Sango countered, her tone brusque.  “We can't do that to him again, Kagome.  I think it would be far better for him to simply deal with his anxiety over you.  The more times you come home alive, the more he will understand that you will be all right when you walk out the door.”

Miroku grunted in pain when Kagome applied the last piece of tape with far more force than necessary.  “You're only saying that because you don't know how ill he was last night,” she snapped back.  Though her expression was angry, the dominant emotion in her voice was concern.  “He won't be able to handle more assignments I get sent on.  Especially when I am sent on more dangerous tasks.  You didn't see how tense he was when I got home.  You didn't see the look of sheer exhaustion in his eyes.  You didn't see how badly his arms and hands were trembling.  I can't do that to him any more!”

“And we can't send him on an assignment, Kagome,” Sango replied with finality.

“Sango, my dear.”  Miroku finally piped up, still wincing from the undue pain Kagome had accidentally inflicted on him.  “Don't rule that out just yet.”

Sango's sharp gaze switched from Kagome to Miroku.  “What are you talking about?”

Taking a deep breath, he shifted into a more comfortable position in the armchair.  “I'm just saying we shouldn't brush the idea off so quickly.  While your arguments are indeed valid, we also have to trust our resident nurse, here.”  He nodded at Kagome.  “If she feels this strongly about it, Inu-Yasha must need the help.  And did we or did we not say we would do anything to assist him?”

With a frown, Sango muttered, “We did.”

Satisfied that Sango would cease arguing, he turned to Kagome.  “I can't promise we can accomplish anything right away.  But give us a bit of time.  We may just be able to come up with something.”

The look of relief on Kagome's face was a sign to Miroku that he had done the right thing.  “Thank you,” she said sincerely.  “If you just try, that's all I ask.”

“Of course.”

Clearing her throat, she pointed out, “Um, if you are able to work this out, just don't forget that Inu-Yasha can't know about it.  He wouldn't gain anything if he knew this was staged.  In fact, he probably would just get angry and refuse to cooperate.”

Miroku gave a short laugh.  “He's so stubborn.  I often wonder how much easier our lives could be if he wasn't so bull-headed.”

With a nod of appreciation, Kagome couldn't help but add, “True, but it's that very trait that is saving his life right now.”

“Indeed.”

Feeling much more at ease now that a potential plan was in the works, Kagome went about her nursing duties with vigor.  It was clear that she wanted to get back to Inu-Yasha's apartment in due haste.  Sango's wounds were checked, cleaned, and dressed in record time, and there was little idle chat as she worked.  Once she packed up her first aid kit and declared they were both coming along just fine, Sango and Miroku were relieved to see her looking far happier than when she had arrived.  However, they found themselves unable to return her cheerful farewell with the same level of joy.  Sango was clearly upset with Miroku, and Miroku was concerned with the problem they now faced.

As soon as the door shut quietly behind Kagome, Sango rounded upon him with a sharp glare.  He was quite familiar with this look, as he was always the recipient when he disagreed with her without explanation.  Granted, his reasons for going against her always served a purpose, but he had to endure her temper first before explaining himself.  This morning was no exception.

“Did you really mean that?” she demanded, shifting to the seat on the coffee table Kagome had recently vacated.  It put Sango at eye-level, which Miroku saw as a good sign.  It meant she wasn't necessarily trying to dominate him, though she did indeed desire an explanation.  “We can't risk getting Inu-Yasha involved.  He already knows more than I would prefer.”

“I understand the chance we would be taking using Inu-Yasha,” Miroku acknowledged, nodding his head.  He knew from experience that it was best to let Sango have her say first.

“Then why did you give Kagome false hope?  Now she thinks we can help her with this.  And we can't.”  Her mouth curved into a frown as she cast her gaze to the floor.  In a much softer voice, she continued, “We've sent Inu-Yasha down the wrong path too many times before.  He's finally showing signs of improvement, and once, just once, I don't want us to be the ones that drag him back down.”  

“Of course,” Miroku gently agreed.  He wished to take her hand in one of his own, but was in a bit too much pain after his rather aggressive dressing change to move far.  “But for a moment, let's observe things from a different point of view.”

Sango glanced up at him, looking a bit confused.

“As you just said, Inu-Yasha is finally starting to pull himself up on his own two feet.  And, understandably, you want to protect him and prevent him from falling back.  But, judging from Kagome's report, something else is threatening his progress.  Something that, potentially, could be just as detrimental as getting involved in the war.”

Miroku smiled calmly at Sango, who still appeared a bit lost.  “It would seem our dear, stubborn friend has fallen in love.  Didn't you hear Kagome?  He refused to drink because he wanted to protect her, to be ready at a moment's notice.  She said he was exhausted and ill when she returned home.  I daresay that came about due to worry.  The same kind of worry you felt last night, when I was in danger.”

Sango flushed a tomato red, but did not disagree.

“Imagine feeling that same fear you experienced last night, but having that fear last for hours on end.  Imagine what you would have felt like if you were unable to come to my aid.  I don't doubt you would be sick and exhausted with worry too.”

“Leave my feelings out of this,” she mumbled, reaching over to take his hand in her own.  It was her way of acknowledging what he said without having to verbally confirm it.

Gratefully accepting the gesture, Miroku asked, “Can you see now how detrimental this could be for Inu-Yasha?  If we can come up with an ersatz assignment, his association with the war could be minimal.  But Kagome...  Kagome will be an ongoing distraction, a constant pull on his attention.  The gift of peace of mind will be far more beneficial than the gift of ignorance.”

Heaving a sigh, Sango finally met his eyes.  “All right, all right.  So we send the two of them on a mission together.  But what mission?  It would have to be dangerous enough that Kagome would be forced to make a display of her powers.  But I really don't want to put that much pressure on Inu-Yasha.  Not if we don't have to.”

“Hmm.”  Miroku picked up a pen and tapped it thoughtfully against his chin.  “Well, I think some sort of reconnaissance mission would suit our needs.  I'm sure there will be enough unrest from our little display last night that demon attacks out on the street will become more common.  Especially...”  He trailed off.  Sango could practically see the cogs turning in his head.  “Especially by the source of the problem.”

He turned to face her, looking rather pleased with himself.  “We could send them to the quarry.”

“The quarry,” Sango repeated disbelievingly.

“Yes!  It would be the perfect ruse.  We haven't heard from Kohaku in several days, correct?”

Flinching at the topic, which was something of great concern to Sango, she stubbornly nodded, determined not to appear weak.

“We could say that we want a report on the situation there.  What the status is.  Is the demon gaining power, if it has obtained more Shikon shards, etc., etc.  And we'll tell Inu-Yasha that he needs to accompany Kagome as her protection.  Undoubtedly the demonic activity in that area will be higher than anywhere else in the city, so it would make perfect sense to bring in an extra person.  Inu-Yasha wouldn't suspect a thing.”

“Fine,” Sango said through gritted teeth, still trying to move past the topic of Kohaku's absence.  “There's still one problem.”

“Oh?”  Miroku, who had been getting excited about this plan, seemed to deflate a little.  “What's that?”

“Inu-Yasha still wouldn't allow us to do this to him.  While I don't doubt that he longs for the chance to protect Kagome, his stubbornness won't let him to waver in his decision.  He did tell us he wouldn't be a part of this, remember?”  She crossed her arms and looked expectantly at Miroku.

Much to her surprise, he gave her a relieved smile.  “Oh, that?  That is hardly a problem, my dear.”

Sango was incredulous.  “Excuse me?”

“Trust me.  We have an ace up our sleeves.”

Kagome returned to Inu-Yasha's apartment considerably more cheerful than when she had left.  Even the fact that she had spotted two demons skulking around the city in broad daylight on her way back did little to dampen her spirits.  Knowing that a plan was in the works comforted her a great deal.  After last night, she couldn't bear the thought of forcing him through another ordeal.  Now that a plan was set, all she had to do was ensure that Inu-Yasha remained clueless and he would be freed from worry.

Which, she grudgingly admitted in her head, shouldn't be too difficult.  He isn't exactly the sharpest knife in the drawer.  She shook her head as she let herself in the apartment.  Personally, she found the lack of insight to be one of his more endearing qualities.

A scuffle in the kitchen broke her out of her thoughts.  As she tugged her coat off and hung it by the door, Inu-Yasha poked his head out of the doorway to glare at her.  Judging from his tousled appearance, he had risen only moments ago.

“Where were you?” he demanded gruffly, his voice hoarse with sleep.  He was clutching an empty coffeepot in his hands.

“I needed to check on Sango and Miroku's wounds,” she replied.  “And I'm sure you will be pleased to know that there was no poison involved.  We had to wait a few hours to make sure.”

Seeing as how he knew practically nothing of the prior night's events, confusion dominated his expression when he nodded.  “Oh. That's... uh, good.”

Kagome tried to hide a smile as she strode past him into the kitchen.  “I'll take care of this,” she informed him, tugging the pot out of his grip.  “You go sit down at the table.”

He relinquished it to her without complaint.  Flopping into a kitchen chair, he let out a gaping yawn and rubbed his face.  “I didn't hear you leave,” he mumbled, keeping his eyes closed as he rested his head in his hand.  

“I don't doubt it,” she replied, tapping a scoop of grounds into the filter.  “You were in a dead sleep when I left.”

“Hmph.”  His lip twitched into a slight scowl.  “That whiskey put my lights out.”

“Indeed it did.”  Pausing to fill the pot with water, Kagome took the mental equivalent of a deep breath.  This was it.  The perfect segue into a conversation that had two very different potential outcomes. If careful with her words and liberal in her compliments and encouragements, Inu-Yasha would be proud of the cut in his alcohol intake.  If a single carelessly-phrased sentence slipped out, Inu-Yasha would crumble at the thought of losing some of his whiskey.

In the hope that her demeanor had not changed in the slightest, she slowly poured the water into the coffee-maker, keeping her back to Inu-Yasha.  “Speaking of whiskey...” she began in a light tone, “you did very well last night.”

He snorted, opening his eyes just so he could give her a disbelieving look.  “Sure,” he grunted.  “I did great.  I could hardly leap seven stories, I was shaky as hell, and I looked bad enough that some old lady called me a junkie.  That's progress, right there.”  The sarcasm was thick in his voice.

“That is progress, Inu-Yasha.”  She finally turned around, meeting his lax expression with a rather stern one of her own.  He blinked in surprise and sat up a little straighter.  She was quite serious.

“You went eight hours over the time limit we set for you.  Eight.  Were you feeling the effects of withdrawal?  Of course!  But were you able to control yourself and resist until I got home?”

There was a beat of silence until Inu-Yasha realized Kagome actually expected an answer out of him.  “Y-yes,” he stammered.

“Yes!” she repeated loudly, making him start.  “Not only that, but you were able to resist even though it was right there, ready and waiting on the counter for you!  How easy would it have been to just walk into the kitchen and grab it?  But you didn't do it.  You stayed in control.  When was the last time you were able to control yourself when it came to booze, Inu-Yasha?”

It took a moment for him to comprehend the full weight of the question.  Control had been one of the first things he had given up when he started drinking all those years ago.  When all he had wanted to do was get drunk as quickly as possible, control was unnecessary.  And when his alcoholism had progressed to the point where he could no longer hamper his drinking, he was beyond the point of caring.

But now, things were changing.  Now he had something to live for, a goal to strive for, and a reason to quit drinking.  Control was everything.  And he had it.

Flushing with pride but not wanting to accept it as truth, he glared down at his feet.  “No,” he muttered.  “I wasn't even in the apartment the whole time, and I was worried about you.  I didn't really consider drinking until you were home.  It wasn't an option.”

“Exactly!” Kagome burst out, eager to stop him before he was able to belittle his accomplishment.  “You told yourself that drinking was not an option.  Did you have any whiskey before I got back?”

“No,” he replied firmly, bringing his gaze up to look her in the eye.  She was pleased to see how irritated he was at the thought failing.

“Then you exercised control.  And that is something to be proud of.”

She was smiling at him with such confidence and pride that he at last allowed a grin to grace his features.  “You, uh... You really think so?”  He scratched the back of his head as he usually did when embarrassed.

“Yes, Inu-Yasha.  I do.  And that's why I've decided to cut back your intake.”

The grin dropped from his face like a stone.  He stared up at her; not angry, but worried.  “U-um, cut back?”  His voice was a bit higher than normal.

“Mmhm.”  Pulling another chair out so she could join him at the table, Kagome rested her chin on her hand.  She was determined to remain calm and casual.  If she got nervous and jumpy, so would Inu-Yasha.  “You've already shown me that not only can you handle waiting longer for alcohol, but you can resist drinking it while you wait.  That means that your withdrawal never forced you to your breaking point.”

“But you saw how sick I got,” Inu-Yasha countered.  He was not trying to be argumentative.  Kagome could see that he simply was nervous at the thought.  “I was shaking like crazy.  And I felt so weak.”

“Yes, you were not in the best condition when I got home,” she said with a nod of acknowledgment.  “But it was eight hours past your usual drinking time—if you weren't sick by then, it would be a miracle.  And yes, you were suffering from withdrawal.  If you were suffering so badly that you had to take a drink, then I would know that you wouldn't be ready for the next step.  But as we already discussed, you didn't drink anything.”

He was silent.  His mouth opened and closed several times in preparation for an argument, but none came.

Kagome watched patiently as the gears in his head ground while he processed the situation.  Being so familiar with his habits, she knew it simply took him longer—sometimes much longer—than others to get past his initial reaction.  The fact that he had not exploded at her yet only helped confirm her assessment.  He was indeed ready to handle the cut in his liquor.  Physically and mentally.

The seconds dragged by, but she remained still.  This was a big step, and he needed to come to terms with it.

Taking a deep breath, his rigid posture relaxed.  “I can do this.”  It was a statement, not a question.

A broad grin spread across Kagome's cheeks.  This was music to her ears.  “You can do this.”

When he lifted his head to meet her gaze, she was taken aback by his expression.  His eyes were steely with determination and his mouth was set in a thin, hard line.  “I'm not gonna let losing half a glass of booze turn me into a coward.  I'm better than that.”  His hand clenched into a fist on the table, and he sat up a little straighter.  “I'm in control,” he growled.  “Not the damn booze.”  The words came out slightly strangled, like he was testing them to see if they fit.  But he seemed pleased with the result, and a small smile tugged at the corner of his mouth.

Kagome could hold back no longer.  Bursting with relief and pride, she leaped out of her chair, cupped his chin in her hands, and kissed him full on the lips.

Intense, and quite passionate, the kiss lasted for several seconds until Kagome finally pulled away.  Inu-Yasha leaned forward slightly when her lips left his, clearly disappointed the moment was over.

Getting to her feet, Kagome laughed at Inu-Yasha's reaction.  “I'm getting in the shower now,” she said, a bit out of breath.  “Drink your coffee before it gets cold.”  And then she danced out of the room, buoyant with joy.

Inu-Yasha remained seated at the table, dazed and motionless.  It took his brain several moments to catch up with the events.  Slowly, he sat back in his chair and brought a hand up to his lips, which were still tingling from that moment of sheer pleasure.

If that's the reward I get for cutting back, I'll be sober by the weekend.

For a few minutes, he stayed where he was, relishing the aftermath.  But at last he pushed himself to his feet.  He stumbled a couple steps, but for the first time in years he was unsteady not from liquor, but from a woman.  He determined the effects were decidedly more pleasurable.  

Humming a nameless tune, which was also something he hadn't done in years, he poured a cup of coffee and made his way into the living room with it.  While Kagome was out of the room, he thought he would take advantage of the time alone and indulge himself with a smoke.  With so much progress made today, he didn't begrudge a cigarette or two.

He decided to open the window to smoke, allowing a strong breeze to cool his flushed cheeks.  Resting his mug on the windowsill, he stuck a cigarette in his mouth.  However, he was interrupted lighting it by the sound of the telephone.  Another day he would have snapped in irritation, but today he didn't mind in the slightest.  Flicking his lighter to life, he snatched the phone from its cradle.

“Hello?” he grunted, his voice muffled by the cigarette clenched in his lips.

“Hi, it's Miro—Inu-Yasha, is that you?”  Miroku had obviously expected Kagome to answer his call.

“Of course it is.  It's my apartment, and it's my phone.  I can answer it once in a while, you know.”  Breathing in a lungful of smoke, Inu-Yasha made his way back to the window and rested his arms on the sill.  The wind, which had been blowing rather forcefully, was now still.  Only the faintest whisper of a breeze pulled tendrils of smoke from his cigarette.

Miroku quickly recovered from his surprise.  “Of course, of course.  I needed to speak with you anyway, Inu-Yasha.”

“What is it you want me to do?” Inu-Yasha asked, rolling his eyes.  While his temper wasn't as fiery as usual at this moment, he still didn't feel like beating around the bush.

Miroku took the question without missing a beat.  He was used to Inu-Yasha's impatience.  “I'm going to tell you right off the bat that you probably aren't going to like this.  But Sango and I want you for this mission.”

“An assignment?” Inu-Yasha growled, his good mood rapidly dissipating.  “Where the hell do you guys come off?!  I thought I made it pretty damn clear that I'm--”

“Shut up for two seconds and let me explain before you label us the two most idiotic people in the world, Inu-Yasha,” Miroku interrupted smoothly.  His voice carried a hint of laughter in it, which did not help Inu-Yasha's disposition.  “I told you, we want you for this mission.  We felt that no one else would put quite the same care into it as you would.”

“I don't give a damn what the mission is.  Don't waste your time, because I'm not gonna do it, no matter what.  I have enough things to worry about, thank you very much.”  Miroku damn well better realize how lucky he is Kagome did what she did earlier, Inu-Yasha thought nastily, baring his teeth down at the street below.  If it wasn't for Kagome's kiss smoothing his ruffled feathers, he would have blown up by now.  As it was, he was dangerously close to that point already.  He did not appreciate his friends ignoring a request that was so important to his well-being.

He heard Miroku give a soft sigh, and then there was the rustling of paper.  “Inu-Yasha, I have here in my hands something that you gave Sango and I a few months ago.  A sort of... Christmas gift, you could say.”  He paused to give Inu-Yasha a moment to think back that far.  With the demon utterly silent on the other end, he understood that Inu-Yasha was well aware of the item he was holding.  

“It's a piece of paper, stating that 'one Inu-Yasha' has given us permission to use his services for one battle with 'no arguing or complaining'.  Sango and I would like to cash this in, if you don't mind.”

A muscle ticked in Inu-Yasha's cheek, but he said nothing.  He couldn't.  Loathe as he was to get involved, he also was loathe to break a promise, especially to his friends.  His moral code wouldn't allow it.

“We need you to act as a bodyguard for one of our agents.  You see, we're sending them on a reconnaissance mission to the quarry.  Kohaku has been unable to contact us with information for several days, so we are going to attempt to glean details ourselves.  However, with the quarry being the core of demonic activity, we want to give our agent some protection as they research.  Are you up to that task?”

Inu-Yasha scowled as he plucked the cigarette from his mouth.  “Yeah, but why do you need me for this?  Why are you wasting your I.O.U. on something as stupid as protection?  Even a moron like Koga could handle this.”

Miroku gave a short laugh of disbelief on the other end of the line.  “If you really think protecting Kagome is stupid, then I certainly can call Koga, but--”

“Kagome?!” Inu-Yasha yelped, nearly knocking his coffee mug out of the window.  “You're sending Kagome to the quarry?  To that hell hole?”

“She's one of, if not the, best agent we have, Inu-Yasha,” Miroku replied calmly.  “Not only is she an expert concerning demonic auras, but she can also sense Shikon shards.  With her, we can find out if the number of demons is growing down there, how powerful the main demon has become, and if more Shikon shards have been found.  Not even Kohaku could feed us all that information.”

Ignoring Inu-Yasha's horrified splutters, Miroku continued.  “But, I suppose if you really think this is a waste of your abilities, then never mind.  I'll save the I.O.U. for another assignment instead.”  His voice grew a little distant.  “Sango, can you find Koga's new cell phone number for me?  Inu-Yasha doesn't want--”

“I'll do it!” Inu-Yasha snarled into the receiver, grabbing it with both hands as though he could prevent Sango from finding the other number.  “I'll do it, dammit!  Don't give it to that moron!  Kagome would be eaten by a demon while that damn wolf would be off chasing his own tail!”

Inu-Yasha could tell there was a smile on Miroku's face when he spoke again, though his tone was serious.  “Of course, Inu-Yasha.  I told you we didn't think that anyone would put quite the same care into this mission as you would.”

“Hmph.”  Flushing, Inu-Yasha put the cigarette to his lips once again to cover up his embarrassment.

“I hope you believe me when I say that Sango and I do feel better putting Kagome under your protection.”  There was no hint of mirth with this statement.  “We know that you will protect her to the death, and we put all our trust in you.  We have no fear whatsoever that Kagome will make it back without a scratch.”

The warm feeling of pride bubbled up in Inu-Yasha's chest for the second time that day.  It had been many months indeed since someone had praised his physical capabilities.  And to have Sango and Miroku trust him...  He covered his eyes with a hand.  It was hard to swallow.

Miroku must have sensed Inu-Yasha was having a little difficulty processing the situation, because he did not comment any further.  Instead, he calmly issued the details of the assignment.  “We would prefer that you and Kagome venture to the quarry tonight.  Demonic activity will be higher after nightfall, but there will be fewer humans around to cause you any trouble.  And with the pair of you together, you shouldn't have too many problems.  Just have Kagome report back to us here at our apartment when you've finished.  Don't hesitate to kill any demons that get in your way.  The less information they have on us, the better off we are.  Understand?”

“Yes.”  Inu-Yasha's voice was hoarse, and it had nothing to do with the smoke.

“Excellent.  Then I suppose we'll be seeing the pair of you tonight.  Good luck, Inu-Yasha.  And thank you.”  Miroku sounded very pleased.

“Yeah... No problem,” Inu-Yasha replied faintly.  He pushed the button to end the phone call, and then stared blankly out the window.  A gust of wind so strong that it blew his cigarette out swirled around him and then dissipated, but he didn't notice.  He was grappling with some strong emotions that he had not expected.  A day that he had greeted with so little enthusiasm had suddenly grown into something huge.

It took several minutes to come to terms with what was happening.  In fact, he was still for so long that Kagome emerged into the living room, dabbing her sopping hair with a towel.

“Inu-Yasha?” she asked curiously, for his behavior was strange.  It was rare to see such a pensive expression on his face.  “Are you all right?”

For a moment, he did nothing.  Growing concerned, she placed the towel over her shoulders and walked over to him, resting a hand on his back.  

“Inu-Yasha?”

He turned his neck to look at her, his amber eyes shining brilliantly.  Baring his fangs in a grin, he proudly announced, “Kagome, we have an assignment tonight.”

The moment the phone call ended, Kagura swooped away from her post by Inu-Yasha's window.  Heading back to the quarry, she pulled every wisp of the wind in her control to aid her journey.  The faster she warned Naraku of the assignment, the more she may be rewarded.  

Having finally experienced the sweet taste of fresh air and clear skies after so long trapped underground, she refused to let go of her freedom.  It was like a drug, and she was an addict.  How she craved the open sky and the cool breeze.  Damp stone walls and stale cave air were no comparison.  Shuddering at the thought of her dank prison, she sank low on her feather in order to urge more speed out of it.

Despite her desire to inform Naraku as quickly as possible, revulsion of the cave forced her to pause just outside the mouth.  Disembarking, she shrunk her feather back down and placed it in her hairpiece, staring in disgust at the dank hole all the while.  The sight alone was oppressive.  The joy from her excursion was already slipping from her grasp.

Taking a deep breath, she pulled a breeze out of the air and spun it around herself.  It was her last shred of comfort, her final piece of solace she could obtain before entering the caverns.  She prayed she would feel the wind again soon, very soon.

It was only when the last breath of the wind drifted away did she step into the mouth of the cave.  Beating the familiar path to the heart of the system, she narrowed her eyes and set her jaw.  It was difficult to ignore how close and solid the walls were.  Her journey outside made this experience nearly unbearable, but she was determined.  Naraku had the power to release her.  If she played her part well, she would be one step closer to freedom.

“Lord Naraku,” she said loudly upon entering his cavern.  It was difficult not to flinch from the light his protective orb emitted, but she kept her chin high.  Confidence was a necessity.  “I have news that will be of some interest to you.”

“This had best be of great importance for you to have abandoned your post so quickly,” came the demon's deep voice.  There was no misunderstanding the displeasure that was positively oozing from his words.  Kagura could not prevent her cursed body from shivering at the sound.

“I know all too well the consequences of failing you again, my lord,” she replied, barely keeping her voice calm.  “But I know for a fact that Inu-Yasha will be making his way here, tonight.  He will be acting as the protector of that female agent—the girl who took down Kageromaru and Juromaru.  She is being sent to gain information about us.”

Silence greeted her after this statement.  She was able to wait quietly for a moment or two, but soon she began to shift her weight from foot to foot.  Her freedom rode on Naraku's response.

“M-my lord,” she began hesitantly, “from what I was able to hear, this will be Inu-Yasha's ONLY assignment for the war.  You will have far fewer chances to attack him if you do not strike tonight.”

“The girl is coming with him?” Naraku suddenly asked, ignoring her previous comment.  “You are certain of this?”

“Yes, my lord,” was her quick reply.  “I used the wind to pull the sounds from Inu-Yasha's phone conversation over to my post.  I am quite certain that was what Miroku told him.  In fact, he said quite clearly that Kagome had to be the agent to go.  No one else could handle it.”

“Hm.”  Naraku fell silent once more, but the heavy air in the room lifted a bit.  Kagura was relieved to feel this—he was no longer angry, but pensive.  “Did Miroku happen to mention why it must be this Kagome who Inu-Yasha accompanies?”

“Yes.  He said that Kagome is the best at sensing demonic aura.  She will be able to tell how many demons you have held in here, and how powerful they are.  He also said she would be able to sense how many Shikon shards you have acquir--”

“You are certain of this?”  The sudden sharpness in his tone made Kagura flinch.  Clearly, this piece of information had a far greater level of importance than she had assumed.

“Those were his words, my lord.”

Naraku fell quiet once more, and Kagura didn't dare say anything more until he made the next move.  However, the next sound that emerged from his orb was a cruel, cold chuckle.  It reverberated around the stone walls, surrounding Kagura and making her tremble with fear.  She did not envy the half-breed and his woman when they arrived at the quarry that evening.

Naraku, however, could not have been more pleased.  “How very, very fitting,” he said, his voice filled with vicious laughter.  “The Order will send the two people I so desperately wish to meet right into my hands.  Of course, how could I expect any better from them?  They have proven how foolish they are, time and time again.  This will not be the first time they have ordered their prime agents to their doom.”

Though she could not see him through the mass of energy, Kagura could feel his gaze shift to her, and she stood up straighter.  If he noticed her showing sympathy for their foes, she was as good as dead.

“Kagura, you have done well.  Go to your quarters.  I shall call upon you the next time I am in need of your services.”

Her heart sank.  “My... my quarters, Lord Naraku?”  She had been certain she would be allowed to return to the skies after such news.

“I will not repeat myself, Kagura.”  His voice came back harsh and cold.  “I have not forgotten your crass mistake earlier.  It will take a much greater display of loyalty than a simple reconnaissance mission to gain back my trust.  Now, begone.”

Nearly weeping from disappointment and misery, Kagura bowed stiffly and exited the cavern.

“Come on, Kagome,” Inu-Yasha growled down the hallway where he paced.  “By the time you finish getting ready, any demon waiting to do an ambush will have given up and gone to bed!”

“Are you implying that you want me to get attacked?” came Kagome's shrill voice in response.  “I mean, I know Sango and Miroku wanted you to come along for my protection, but that doesn't mean your skills need to be put to use!”

“Oh, just hurry up,” he snapped back.  Truth be told, he was anxious for some action.  Having had all day to work himself up over his first assignment in weeks, he was quite ready to release his pent-up energy.

At last, Kagome emerged from the bedroom.  “Sorry, sorry,” she said, smiling at him.  “I needed the extra bolts for my crossbow.”

“Hmph.  Since I'm comin' along, you aren't gonna need 'em.”  He crossed his arms and scowled down at her.

She had to stifle a laugh.  This was such a far cry from the man she was accustomed to.  By now she normally would have had to bolster his confidence with some well-worded compliments and reassurances.  And even then, it still might not be enough to get him prepared to face an assignment.

But now, having him stand by the door and stare impatiently at her was the strangest experience.  Still, she didn't complain.  It was wonderful to see progress.  

“Of course I won't,” she acknowledged, zipping up her coat.  “But nowadays, you can never be too careful.  Especially after last night.”

“You still won't tell me what happened last night,” he growled back.

“Nope.”  She grasped his hand in hers and tugged him gently toward the door.  “Let's get going, shall we?  You can show me how you look in action.  I haven't really seen that properly, you know.”

His chest swelled a bit at the thought.  The impatient scowl on his face melted into a smirk, and he quickly followed her out the apartment door.

Pausing on the landing, Kagome turned and gave him a serious look.  “Inu-Yasha, are you sure you don't want to drink your whiskey before we go?  This will be two nights in a row you've gone without it at the proper time.  I don't want you suffering from withdrawal right in the middle of our assignment.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Dammit, yes, I'm sure.  We've been over this.  I am not going to protect you with whiskey in my blood.  And besides, just like you told me this morning, I've proven that I can handle going without booze for a while.  Now, can we get going?”

Shaking her head, still amazed at the change in the half-demon that had happened seemingly overnight, she said nothing and turned for the stairs.

Inu-Yasha, of course, scooped her up in his arms and leaped up the next couple flights, landing in front of the door to the roof.  Kagome, while unsurprised by the ride, did give him a questioning look.  “The roof?” she asked as he set her down.  

He nodded.  “Yeah.  It'll be safer.  Not only will there be fewer demons if we stick to the rooftops, but if we're ambushed, any fight that would break out would attract less attention up here.  I have a feeling the Order doesn't want to draw too much fire at the moment.”

Impressed, she scanned the rooftop.  “Of course.  Good thinking.”

“I do that sometimes,” was his cheeky reply.  “Now, jump on.”

Kneeling down so she could clamber onto his back, he waited until she had a firm grip before springing forward.  He was running at a pace that Kagome did not realize he could hold for so long, but he appeared unconcerned.  He was confident that all the training he had put himself through at the gym would assist him in this run.  His endurance had improved—not drastically, but enough so that he could make it safely to the quarry without becoming incapacitated.

Kagome, once she understood that he was confident about his abilities, chose to quit worrying about his stamina and instead focus on her surroundings.  Though the frosty night air forced her to nuzzle into Inu-Yasha's warm back, she reached out with her senses, searching for any potential attackers.  The sharp spike in the number of demons she could feel was a cause of great concern.  The city was nowhere near as safe as it had been a few days ago.  Trouble was brewing.

Barely five minutes into their journey, she noticed that one particular demon was following them, matching Inu-Yasha's pace with ease.  It remained a constant presence behind them, growing ever closer.  Inu-Yasha, despite all his confidence, had yet to notice it.  Kagome waited for as long as she could without saying anything, for she did not want to wound his pride by taking the demon out herself.  However, when at last the imp came into sight less than a rooftop's distance away from them, she whipped out her crossbow and fired at bolt straight into the imp's abdomen.

Inu-Yasha may not have noticed the demon, but he did notice the explosion of a brilliant, white-blue light.  Skidding to a halt, he stared back at the greasy, smoking stain on the brick.  “Kagome...?”

“He was following us,” she replied calmly, clicking another bolt into place.  “We can't let them know what we're doing.”

“Wait... There was a demon?”

“Yes.”

Inu-Yasha appeared angry by the news.  “Well... why didn't you say anything, dammit?  How can I protect you if you don't warn me of these things?  I could have taken it out!”

“Look, I had the better shot, and I took care of it.  That's all,” Kagome told him, trying to calm him down.  “We have to work as a team, Inu-Yasha.  I know you could have taken care of it, but that doesn't mean you had to take care of it.  I'll watch your back, and you watch mine, okay?”

He was frowning deeply at her, studying her carefully.  Having automatically assumed that accompanying her as a bodyguard implied that all manner of protection belonged to him, it hadn't really crossed his mind that Kagome would be able to handle some of the situations.

His expression easing a fraction, he switched his gaze back to the meager remains of the imp.  “That was a good shot,” he grudgingly admitted.

She nodded in appreciation, using the moment to hide a pleased smile.  It was good to see that Miroku's plan was working.  Inu-Yasha was slowly beginning to understand that she wasn't a helpless damsel anymore.  “Thank you,” she told him.  “Now, shall we continue?  The faster we get to the quarry, the faster we can get home.  I'd like to avoid much more fighting, if possible.”

With a grunt, he knelt down to let her on his back once again, and soon they were off.  Kagome had the feeling that, while appreciative of her abilities, Inu-Yasha was determined not to let another demon slip by under his radar.  His ears were twitching left and right at an annoying rate, and she could feel how tense his neck and shoulders were beneath her.

However, his diligence paid off.  A few minutes later, he suddenly broke off from their path.  Leaping onto a nearby water tower, he swung around it and drove his fist into the head of a very surprised bat demon.  It didn't even have the chance to react before Inu-Yasha tossed its limp body to the alley below.

“It was gonna ambush us,” he gave as a short explanation to Kagome's shocked expression.  She had been unable to sense its aura.  “That's what bat demons do.  They hang around in the dark and swoop in when we least expect it.  They use sonar to not only find its prey, but to block our senses.  I'll bet that's why you couldn't find its aura—it was blocking your ability.”

“Then how did you know where it was?” she asked curiously.

He gave a short, barking laugh.  “The damn thing may have blocked your abilities, but my ears still worked.  I heard it squeakin' from a mile away.”

“Goodness.  You certainly are knowledgeable on these things.”  Kagome was very impressed.

“Hmph.  I didn't become the best agent for the Order for nothing.”  He was unable to keep the pride out of his voice.  “All right, come on.  We're almost there.”

Riding on that success, Inu-Yasha was able to overcome two more demons on their way to the quarry.  One of them Kagome was unable to sense before Inu-Yasha.  The other one she felt coming long before he did, but she was smart enough to keep quiet until he caught on.  He took that one out easily as well, so she refrained from speaking.  All these successes for him were yet another step in bolstering his confidence, and she was not about to ruin the opportunity.

At last Inu-Yasha made his way to the ground, directly at the entrance to the quarry.  He was breathing slightly heavier than normal, as Kagome was quick to notice, but he didn't appear as fatigued as he normally would have been after such a workout.  This was a good sign, and Inu-Yasha himself seemed pleased with the achievement.

“Where do you think would be the best vantage point for you?” he asked between deep breaths.  She noticed his eyes flicking to and fro at the quarry's walls, and his ears were twitching just as rapidly.  He was obviously scanning their surroundings for potential attacks.

“I need to be in a little deeper,” she replied, remembering how faint the Shikon shards had felt the last time she was here.  “We'll have to walk along the edge for a bit.”

“Right.  I'll go first.  You stay close behind me.”  Taking his role of protector very seriously, Inu-Yasha got in front of her and slowly led the way, keeping one hand on the wire fence along the edge of the quarry and the other grasping Kagome's arm behind him.

Things were practically silent as they walked.  The crunch of gravel beneath their shoes was nearly deafening.  There were absolutely no signs of movement or life whatsoever in the dark of night.  Peering into the black abyss of the quarry, Kagome strained to sense any aura or power that might give her a clue as to what was down there.  However, much to her concern, she could sense nothing.

This was so disconcerting that at last she stopped walking.  “Inu-Yasha,” she murmured, pulling out her pocket crossbow once again.

“I know,” he whispered back.  “I can feel it to.  There isn't anything here.  Anything demonic, at least.  Miroku was under the impression that this place was like a demon's nest.  He sounded like he expected there to be dozens of demons, at least, swarming the place.  I can't sense anything, can you?”

“No, I can't.”  The feeling was eerie.  Kagome felt as though she was alone, although she was certain someone was there with them.

“Didn't Myoga mention something about a barrier?”  She stepped closer to Inu-Yasha, and was suddenly very glad he accompanied her that evening.  “Something that prevented demonic aura from leaking out.  Perhaps that's why I can't sense anything.”

“Maybe.”  Inu-Yasha sounded uncertain.  To him, it was odd that there weren't any demons around the quarry at all, causing trouble.

Taking a deep breath, Kagome attempted to be brave.  She was unsettled by the silence, certainly, but she had a job to do.  “Well, we know that I can still sense Shikon shards through the barrier.  I'll see if I can find out how many they have their hands on now.  Watch over me, will you?”

Hearing his growl of affirmation, she felt able to get down on her hands and knees as she had done before, and she focused her powers down in the quarry below.  Even though she wasn't watching out for her surroundings, she found a great deal of comfort to have Inu-Yasha there, keeping watch for her.

She closed her eyes and stretched out with her senses, straining for the slightest hint of that warm, powerful glow of the Shikon shards.  It took several moments, but at last she caught wind of them, miles below the surface.

“I think I've got 'em, Inu-Yasha,” she whispered.  “But they are so far away.  Hold on...”
Something strange was happening.  The warm glow they emitted was growing stronger and more clear.  Suddenly she was able to determine exactly how many shards there were, and how powerful they had become being so close together.  Their power was increasing before her very eyes, and she soon realized it was because the shards were moving closer to her and Inu-Yasha at an alarming rate.

She leaped to her feet, choking back a shriek.  The situation had suddenly turned dangerous.  There was a difference between acting as a bodyguard to fighting a demon with the enhanced strength of not one, but nine Shikon shards.  Inu-Yasha may have improved, but this was too much to ask of anyone.  Kagome had no doubt that this was not just any demon, but the super-demon that Sango and Miroku were so concerned about.

“Inu-Yasha,” she said harshly, grabbing his arm.  He appeared startled by the sudden change in her demeanor.  Clearly, he hadn't noticed anything. “We have to\h

Words failed her.  This time, even Inu-Yasha understood what had happened.  The barrier holding back the demonic aura had been broken.  Hundreds upon hundreds of demons were surging out of the cavern, racing toward freedom.  Their combined power was crushing for the two agents so attuned to sensing auras.  

However, their energy was nothing compared to what emerged after them.  Kagome had no idea what it was, but its unholy power made the mass of demons feel like a light summer breeze in comparison.  She fell to the ground, her legs unable to support her any longer under the sheer weight of its aura.  Inu-Yasha staggered into the wall, barely able to remain standing.

“K-Kagome,” he muttered, dazed.  “Run.”  Snagging her by the crook of her arm, he dragged her to her feet and took off toward the open road.  If only they could make it out alive.  If they made it out and back to the main road, they could easily find a place to hide until the surge had passed.  Survival was the only goal at this point.

Success suddenly became and unobtainable dream.  Stunned as they were, they were unable to run quickly enough to make it out.  A wall of demons of every kind and shape imaginable swooped down in front of them, blocking their escape.  Inu-Yasha, forcing his body into action, snarled viciously at the roiling mass and bared his fangs, daring any demon to attempt to pick them off.  Kagome was not going to be taken by a third-rate devil.  Not with him there.

“Just try it!” he roared, shielding Kagome with his body.  “Just try it, I DARE y--”

The words died in his mouth.

Kagome, who had been trying to keep her hand steady to fire a blast powerful enough to break a hole in the wall, forgot any attempt at firing when she saw the sudden change in Inu-Yasha's demeanor.  His mouth hung open in shock, his body fell slack and every drop of color drained from his face.  His limbs were trembling uncontrollably, to the point where he nearly fell down.  Kagome grabbed hold of him, fear for his health greater than her fear of the mass of demons they were facing.

“Inu-Yasha!” she said sharply.  “Inu-Yasha, what's wrong?!  What's happening?!”

His mouth was opening and shutting involuntarily as though he were trying to speak.  His eyes, wide and blank from sheer terror, were focused on a specific point behind her.  Wondering what could possibly have Inu-Yasha, the bravest man she had ever known, incapacitated from fear, she glanced over her shoulder.

And suddenly, she understood.

Inu-Yasha at last choked out the name that had been lodged in his throat.  

“Naraku.”

oOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOo OoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoOoO

Ooh, another cliffy.  I hate to do it, but it had to be done.  I hope you all enjoyed the extra-long chapter.  Please, leave your thoughts in a review, as I do so love to read them. :D  Oh, and an explanation of the chapter title will be given at the end of Part 2.  However, many of you may know of it from the song by Mumford and Sons, as was the inspiration.  I'll leave you with that to think on.  Until next time, folks. :)






















Converting /tmp/phpR7EDo5 to /dev/stdout