InuYasha Fan Fiction ❯ To Bear Witness ❯ An Ace Up Our Sleeves... ( Chapter 30 )

Disclaimer: See another chapter. I'm to wiped to do one this week.

Chapter Thirty: An Ace Up Our Sleeve

*Wednesday 10:23 AM, Atlanta GA.*

"Ow…" Kagome groaned painfully. She rubbed the back of her neck, her fingers grazing the bandage at the base of her skull.

"Hey Kagome-mama, are you ok?"

Kagome opened her eyes, blinking at the sudden bright light as she struggled to focus. "Shippou?"

"Yeah, it's me." His blurry face appeared in front of her, with what she guessed was a smile. "How are ya? The doctor says that you might have a mild concussion."

"I've been better." Kagome swung her legs off the hospital bed and sat up, once again touching the bandage as Sutaasafaia put her hand on her shoulder. Kagome looked up at her, the inu youkai's face finally sharpening as Kagome's healing ability kicked in. "How are you?"

"I'm alright. You gave us quite a scare," Sutaasafaia said as the room door opened. Each looked up as Agent Toutousai came into the room.

"I see you're doing well," he said as he nodded a greeting to Shippou. "Do you remember what happened?"

Kagome nodded bleakly. "Um, Naraku…" She stopped as tears welled in her eyes, the memory coming down on her like a tsunami. "Oh God…"

"Did you find the truck?" Sutaasafaia asked. Toutousai shook his head. "There's no trace of Naraku, Mr. Takamada or the SUV. They're gone."

Kagome covered her face with her hands, her grief drowning out the rest of Toutousai's report.

"By the order of the U.S. Marshal service and the CIA, you Sutaasafaia Hitorame and Kagome Higurashi are hereby suspended until further notice."

"What?" Sutaasafaia exclaimed as Kagome gasped. "What for?"

"You two are under investigation. It's the normal procedure for when a mission fails, and with the death of Mr. Takamada and the disappearance of Mr. Hitame, the government wants to make sure they can't be blamed for it."

"But it's not their fault that Naraku had four hundred guys waiting on them!" Shippou argued. Toutousai shrugged. "I know that, but there's nothing I can do. It's out of my hands." He attempted to say something else, but shook his head and left the room without another word. Shippou moved to walk after him, but stopped when Kagome sniffed.

"Don't worry Kagome," he said as he gave her a gentle hug. "We'll fight it."

"I don't want to fight it," she whispered. "I just want him back. I'm so sorry Sesshoumaru."

*Tuesday, 2:04 AM*

Kagome sat by Sango's bedside, her head in her crossed arms as she once again attempted to get some sleep. 'I just don't understand it,' she said to herself as she rubbed her weary eyes. 'It's been almost a week, and Sango still hasn't come out of it. I don't know what to do anymore.'

All week since her suspension, Kagome stayed by Sango's bedside. "We're all waiting on you.," Kagome whispered softly so to not disturb Miroku. He slept close by in the windowsill seat, curled in a semi-tight ball with a spare blanket wrapped around him. He stayed close by as well, either at Sango's side or in a nearby corner as the nurses came in to change her bandages.

It was the bandages that bothered Kagome the most; that constantly reminded Kagome of how much pain her friend was in. Her entire head was wrapped in gauze, with her right eye bandaged along with her ribs. Kagome winced in sympathy at Sango's labored breath. "We're each trying everything we can to help you."

Kagome and the doctors worked day and night, with Kagome attempting to heal Sango's many wounds when the doctors weren't looking. The four neuro-surgeons, three Sesshoumaru called from Japan, Germany and Brazil plus the one already stationed at the hospital, reasoned that since there was no actual brain damage that they could find, that there must be something else preventing Sango from waking.

Kagome searched for an outside source, anything that looked like a spell, curse or miasma but she too found nothing.

"You know what the funny thing is?" Kagome asked as she held Sango's hand. "The prick kept his promise too. Oh," Kagome gave a soft, bitter laugh. "I shouldn't speak ill of the dead." Guilt washed over her again as she recalled her last moments with Sesshoumaru. 'I shouldn't have treated him like that,' Kagome told herself as she returned her head to her arms. 'I should have listened. Yeah, he was an insensitive jerk, but he was right. If he was told not to tell anyone, I shouldn't have gotten mad. He can't-'

She shook her head jerkily, fighting back tears as she corrected herself. 'Couldn't tell me everything.' She sniffed, then whispered "I miss him so much…"

"Oh man Kagome, where'd you get that funky scarf?" someone asked as she felt a tug on her ponytail.

Kagome blinked, then gasped as she jerked her head up. Sango smiled down at her, her one uninjured eye sparkling brightly as she quirked a brow. "Well, are you going to answer me or not?"

Kagome laughed, a wide smile on her face as she hugged Sango's hand. "It's so good to see you Sango. We thought you were through."

"Nope," Sango groaned. "You can kick me, but I always come back for more."

"Here you go Kagome," Sutaasafaia said as she came into the room. "One coffee, black. Oh," she smiled at Sango, who gave her a weary smile back as Sutaasafaia handed Kagome her cup. "Good to see you finally. How are you feeling?"

"Perfectly fine," Sango quipped. "Next stupid question." Kagome shook her head as she and Sutaasafaia broke into laughter, it waking Miroku from his slumber. "Hey, what's so funny?" He sat up, his eyes instantly falling on Sango as she waved at him.

"Hi Roki-Roki," she whispered with a smile. Miroku stood up instantly, his hand reaching to grasp hers as he smiled back. "Hey Butterfly. Glad to see you with us."

"Glad to be back. So what happened?"

"What do you remember?" Sutaasafaia asked as Kagome turned away. Sango shrugged painfully. "I don't know really. I remember blacking out, then feeling warm. There was a woman's voice too."

"What'd she say?" Miroku asked. Sango thought a moment, then said "I'm sorry. Or that's what I think she said. I'm not too sure. What's happened?" she asked again, watching as Kagome's shoulders began to shake.

"You know Naraku took Inuyasha," Miroku told her as Shippou came into the room. "But he took his niece and killed Mr. Takamada."

"Oh Kagome," Sango touched Kagome's shoulder. "I'm so sorry."

"About that," Shippou interrupted as he stepped forward. "I don't think Mr. Takamada's dead."

"What are you talking about?" Sutaasafaia said as Kagome jerked to attention. "Kagome said that she saw the spear go through him."

"Yeah, I know, but I did some research on that and I found out something interesting."

"You know that Kagome and I are suspended," Sutaasafaia replied. "So giving us information on the case could get you in trouble."

"I don't care," Shippou said. "I'd never keep anything from Kagome." He turned to Kagome, missing Sutaasafaia's smile as he gave her a red folder.

"What's this?" Kagome asked as she dried her face.

"That's from the stadium surveillance camera," Shippou explained. "Don't worry you two, I doctored the tape so that you're 'unique' way of negotiating won't be discovered."

"Thanks Shippou," Sutaasafaia replied.

"No problem. As I was saying, this picture," he flipped through the folder, pulling up a picture of Sesshoumaru as one of Naraku's men raised the spear above his head. Shippou winced at Kagome's gasp, but continued. "Now, see that spear?"

"Yeah," Miroku said, leaning over the bed so he could get a better view. "What about it?"

"Well, it's made odd, like it's a little too thick to be a spear. Anyway, I thought about it and this is what I came up with." He reached inside his back pocket and handed Sutaasafaia a National Geographic. "Flip to page 8."

"Alright…" Sutaasafaia flipped through the pages, then shrugged. "It's an article on elephant poaching. So what?"

"So this article is about a new kind of spear poachers are using on African elephants. It's not meant to kill them, but deliver a tranquilizer that's inside the tip of the spear. The poachers stand either in the bushes beside the herd or above it and throw them at the nearest one."

"But doesn't the elephant run away?" Miroku asked as Sutaasafaia and Kagome struggled to figure out what Shippou seemed to be hinting at.

"Well yeah, but how far do you think an elephant hopped up on tranq is going to get?" Shippou said as he flipped the page. "They keep up with it as it runs off, wait until the tranquilizer takes effect, harvest the tusks and leave the elephant to die in the middle of the desert."

"But what does that have to do with Mr. Takamada?" Sango asked as Kagome and Sutaasafaia looked at each other.

"The spears are the same," Sutaasafaia realized, holding the picture of the spear Naraku's men used up to the article. "Don't you think so Kagome?"

"Yeah, or at least they look the same."

"You two think Mr. Takamada's still alive, don't you?" Miroku asked incredulously. Sutaasafaia and Kagome thought a moment, then

"Yup."

"But he can't be," Miroku argued. "Even if he did get stuck with one of those spears, do you really think he could survive a direct heart injection of elephant tranquilizer?"

"I'm almost sure of it," Kagome said with Sango's yawn in the background. "So if he's alive-"

"Then all we have to do is find him and set him free!" Sutaasafaia exclaimed happily. "And we'll get our jobs back! Perfect!"

"Um…" Miroku started. "That's great and all, and I'm sure you're theory is sound, but how are we supposed to find him?"

"Oh yeah," Kagome sighed dejectedly then sank back into her chair. Sango yawned once again, then pointed to her purse.

"Roki-Roki, give Kagome my purse would you please?"

"Sure." Miroku handed Kagome the purse, shrugging at Kagome's confusion. "I don't understand why though."

"My pager's in there. You guys will need it if you want to find the others." She closed her eyes a moment, then stared into Kagome's and smiled. "You go find him," she whispered as she started to fall asleep. "And when you get back, you're going to have to tell me where to find a scarf like yours."

"Sure Sango. You get some sleep." Kagome patted her hand, then shrugged the instant Sango fell asleep.

"Why did she give you her purse?" Sutaasafaia asked.

"I don't know, but she said that it would help find them. I don't see how though."

"I do!" Shippou exclaimed. He snatched the purse from Kagome's lap and began to dig inside it, lipsticks and other personal items flying from it as the others looked on.

"What are you doing?" Kagome yelled, attempting to grab the purse as a tampon flew past her head. Shippou ignored her, sighing in triumph as he jerked Sango's pager from inside it.

"This," he said, opening the back of the pager. "Is how we'll find him!"

"That's right," Miroku realized. "The tracking devices in the back of the pagers! I forgot about them!"

"I did too!" Kagome peered over Shippou's arm, trying to see over his arm as he began to type on the interface surface. "Have you got anything?"

"Yeah, I got something," he said. "The tracer is working but it's too far away to track."

"Crap." Miroku sat back on the windowsill, and Kagome sat beside him as Sutaasafaia started to think.

"Wait a minute…" she said after a while. "I think we can still use this."

"How?" Kagome asked. "Shippou already said that it was too far to track."

"Maybe not." Sutaasafaia nodded, then stood up and grabbed her coat. "Do you still have control of Mr. Takamada's plane?"

"Um, I think so," Kagome said, she and Miroku following Sutaasafaia as she walked out the door. "But if not then I could always ask Ah and Un. Why?"

"Because we need to get to Chicago. I have a friend that may be able to help us…"

*Wednesday, 8:20 AM*

Sesshoumaru slowly opened his eyes, registering the metal ceiling above him before looking around. It appeared to be some sort of lab, with a set of large green glass cylinder tubes on the wall nearest him. He was lying on a metal gurney, with metal cuffs around his wrists and ankles.

"Good morning Sesshoumaru-sama," Naraku called cheerily as he stepped from the shadows around him. "You've been out for quite a while. I almost thought you wouldn't wake up."

"What am I doing here?" Sesshoumaru growled, his claws flexing as he attempted to get free. "What is this? And what happened to my sealing spell?"

"Sealing spells don't work here," Naraku explained. "As to what you're doing here, it's simple really. You're going to help me."

"And what makes you think I'll do that?" Sesshoumaru snarled, giving up on his struggles to get some questions answered. Naraku chuckled.

"Because you don't have a choice.

"You see Sesshoumaru," Naraku began as he stood by Sesshoumaru's side. "I'm going to show you something important. This," he patted a nearby control panel installed in the wall. "is my regeneration machine. It helps me to become stronger by giving me the youki of other youkai."

"What does this have to do with me?"

"Patience, Sesshoumaru-sama. Patience." Naraku chuckled darkly, his brown eyes becoming crimson in a matter of moments. "I know you won't tell me where the last part of the Dark Star is, so I'm going to do something a bit detailed, but better. I'm going to load you into the regenerator and use your youki to get it."

"And how are you going to do that?" Sesshoumaru asked, eying the green cylinders warily. 'I…know of this, but from where?'

"That's the beauty of the plan," Naraku said, interrupting Sesshoumaru's train of thought. "You see, once I get your youki, I can become you. Sort of like this." Naraku removed the baboon mask, Sesshoumaru staring in concealed awe when his red-eyed face stared back at him. "Do you like?" Sesshoumaru's duplicate said in Naraku's voice. When Sesshoumaru said nothing, Naraku shrugged, returned to his previous self and continued.

"It's alright for little things," Naraku said irritably. "But it's not complete. Now a complete transformation looks a little like this."

Naraku shuddered as a dark cloud surrounded him, shielding him from view as miasma filtered throughout the room. Sesshoumaru covered his nose with his tail, his eyes trained on Naraku as a bright light flashed around the hanyou.

The cloud dispersed a few minutes later, it and the miasma disappearing as a figure came into view. He was dressed like Naraku, but the scent wasn't his. It was old, like papyrus, with hints of sand and river water. Naraku's face was different as well, leaner, with a deep tan and almond-shaped silver eyes. His head was shaved bald but for a black lock at the crown of his head that dragged the floor behind him. Black wings sprouted from his back, and the figure before him smiled.

"Now this," he said in a deep baritone voice. "Is what I'm talking about."

A startled gasp drew their attention, and both he and Sesshoumaru turned to the doorway where Katrina stood in wide-eyed shock. "Father?"

The figure smiled evilly, quickly becoming Naraku once again as Sesshoumaru and Katrina watched. "I'm sorry to disappoint you Katrina darling. You're father isn't here."

"Again hanyou," Sesshoumaru interrupted, sparing Katrina a parting glare before turning to Naraku. "What does this have to do with me?"

"Don't you get it?" Naraku said, then shook his head. "No one understands me. You see, I'm going to sap the youki from your body and put it into mine. Then I'm going to pose as you, run your company, and find the last part of the remote control myself. Oh, and you have our little Katrina to thank for this." A tentacle wrapped around Katrina's waist and pulled her forward, Naraku ignoring her struggles as he gripped her in a nearly crushing hug.

"She's the one who distracted your brother while we set this up." He glanced over Katrina's head at a wall clock, then quickly dropped her. "I must be going. I have other matters to attend to. Katrina here will see that you're well taken care of." Naraku patted the top of Katrina's head and walked away, waving to Sesshoumaru one last time before disappearing.

Katrina stood up, wiping her hands on the front of her jeans before looking at Sesshoumaru. "I bet you hate me right now, don't you?"

"I don't have time to hate you, treacherous human."

"Yeah, that. I'm not human Sesshoumaru." Katrina ran a claw along Sesshoumaru's sleeves, systematically ripping the cloth from his shirt to his wrist and removing them.

"What of my brother?" Sesshoumaru asked. "And Rin? What has become of them?"

"They're here," Katrina said. "and they're safe."

"There's an oxymoron," Sesshoumaru grumbled as she ripped away the rest of his shirt. "What are you doing?"

"I'm prepping you for the regenerator," she explained. "You must be nude for the doctors to inspect you."

"I'm going to kill you when I get out of this," Sesshoumaru told her calmly. "And I'm going to kill Naraku as well."

"I don't care what you do to him, or me," Katrina said. "But will you promise to get my father out of here?"

"I will make no such promises to the likes of you."

Katrina nodded in understanding. "I understand that, but…he's not involved in this. He's a victim too."

"This Sesshoumaru is no victim."

"I never said you were." Katrina sighed, then shook her head. "I won't let Naraku hurt you."

Sesshoumaru raised a brow, then turned away from her. "And I'm just supposed to trust you?"

"No, but Inuyasha does."

"I don't harbor his affections for you."

"That is true, but there is also this." Katrina reached behind her ear and pulled out a small clear disk.

"What is that?" Sesshoumaru asked. "A torture device?"

"No, it's a tracking device." Katrina nodded happily at his curious glance. "That's right Sesshoumaru. This is a way for your miko to find us."

"And you think keeping that is going to protect you from me?" Sesshoumaru growled angrily. "If so, you are sadly mistaken."

"I know you'll probably still be angry with me when this is over," Katrina said as she gathered the scraps of his clothes. "But I'm still going to do what I can. You may be a jerk, but you don't deserve what Naraku has planned for you." She brushed past him, and for a moment Sesshoumaru caught her true scent, one that reminded him of the youkai Naraku changed into.

'You would think she would be loyal to the halfbreed. So why would she bother to help me?' Sesshoumaru asked himself as Katrina threw the remains of his clothes into a nearby trash can. 'Perhaps it is part of Naraku's plan…but why go through so much trouble when he already has me? And why do she and the youkai he changed into smell alike?'

"Katrina?"

She turned to him, then moved to his side. "Yes Sesshoumaru?"

"Who was the youkai Naraku changed into?"

She looked down sadly, a lone tear streaking down her cheek before returning his gaze. "That was what my father used to look like, before he was assimilated into the regenerator.

"I hope Kagome comes soon," she admitted as she walked toward the door. "Because I don't know how long I can keep you out of there.

*11:01 AM, Eastern Chicago*

"Good grief," Sutaasafaia grumbled as she pounded on the apartment door. Heavy metal music thumped from the other side, the rhythmic growls and pounds drowning out Sutaasafaia's attempts to knock.

"Maybe we should try again later," Miroku said as Sutaasafaia began kicking the door.

"No," she grunted softly. "She's here and I know she is so she'd better-"

>Kick!<

"open"

>Kick!<

"the fucking"

>Kick!<

"door!!!!"

>KICK!!<

"Let me try," Kagome said as she stepped forward. "Before you break your foot off."

"Go right ahead," Sutaasafaia growled as she stepped aside. "I'm sure you won't get any further than I have."

Kagome smiled and kneeled at the keyhole, tapping it thoughtfully before jerking Miroku's pantleg. "I need something-"

"I'm sure you'll have something, if you keep jerking like that." Miroku grinned back at her scowl, then laughed as she rolled her eyes and punched him in the thigh.

"Not that something, pervert. I need a file or something."

"Here," he said, pulling out a long piece of copper wire. "Will this do?"

"Why do you have that?" Sutaasafaia asked as Kagome bent the end into a loop and jammed it into the keyhole. Miroku shrugged.

"You never know when you need a good piece of wire."

Kagome's hand flashed purple a moment, then returned to normal as she handed Miroku back the wire. "Thanks-OW!" he exclaimed, dropping the wire as he waved his burning hand frantically. "What'd you do to it?"

"It'll be back to normal in a while," Kagome said. She stood up and turned the doorknob, smiling to the others when it opened without protest. "See," she said as Sutaasafaia led the way inside. "And you were kicking it."

"Shut up," Sutaasafaia grumbled lightly. "Not all of us are Super Girl."

"Hey, I've always wanted to kiss Super Girl," Miroku hollered as the music assaulted their ears. Kagome closed the door behind them, mentally seeking out whoever it was Sutaasafaia was looking for as she led them through the apartment to the living room.

The stereo system in the living room was where the noise was coming from, it full blast as it's owner lay stretched out in the middle of the floor. Her attentions were on a video game, her leaning from side to side with the turns she made onscreen.

"Damnit!" she hollered above the music, grumbling to herself as he car ran headfirst into a white van. "Cut me some slack, would ya!"

Sutaasafaia reached for the power button to the stereo, pushing it quickly as Kagome and Miroku sighed in relief.

"Hey!" the girl jumped up, her trench coat puffing up around her as she turned to glare at Sutaasafaia and the others from behind the bangs of her shattered, lime-green streaked bob. "Who do you think you-hey, is that 'Faia?"

"Yeah, it's me," Sutaasafaia said with a grin. The girl smiled back, turning around to turn the TV off before addressing the others.

"How are you guys?" she said with a happy smile. "Sorry about not hearing you. How'd you get in?"

"She's a locksmith," Sutaasafaia said absently.

"Oh. OK then. I'm Sonia." She extended a hand to both Miroku and Kagome, then turned to Sutaasafaia once again. "Now what do you want?"

"To serve you a ticket for the noise pollution. What do you think I want?"

"Grouchy," Sonia grumbled, then ignored her for Kagome. "I suppose you'll tell me what's up Miss…"

"Oh, I'm Kagome. We need you to look at this." She handed Sonia Sango's pager. "It's a tracking device."

"That I can see, but why do you need me?"

"The person we're tracking is outside the locator's range," Shippou explained. "Sutaasafaia thinks there's something you can do about it."

"Sure. Follow me." Sonia walked toward the back of the apartment with Kagome, Shippou and the others following close behind.

"Welcome to my office," Sonia said as she threw a door open. Inside what should have been a bedroom was nothing but a desk on the farthest wall with six screens mounted on various parts of the wall. A small cot was nestled in a corner, with boxes of computer hardware scattered about the floor.

Sonia sat at the desk and hooked up the pager as the others gathered around her. She reached over to turn on the computer screen, the words 'Zero Cool' scrolling around the screen in flaming blood red letters.

"Still hacking I see," Sutaasafaia grumbled good naturedly. Sonia glared over her shoulder at her, then began typing. "Yeah and? What are you going to do, arrest me?"

"Some day."

"But not today." She typed a little more, then glanced over her shoulder at the others. "What kind of tracking system is this?"

"It's an internet/satellite hook up," Shippou said. "with a 100 mile range."

"Alright then," Sonia replied, typing furiously for a moment. The others watched as various things popped up on the screens, then stepped back when Sonia clapped her hands.

"OK, this is what you guys have," she began to explain. "If you had any other device, you guys would be screwed, but this baby is special. Whoever engineered this was a genius."

"Thanks," Shippou said, quirking a brow at her questioning stare. "It's about time someone appreciated me."

"Anyway…" Kagome gestured for Sonia to keep going.

"Oh…yeah…anyway, it's not that complicated to upgrade. All you have to do is link the tracer to the adjoining satellite to strengthen the tracking signal. See," she pointed to the upper left-hand screen. "That screen is running a diagnostic on the tracer itself. This screen," she pointed to the one below it "is running a diagnostic on the bug. The next couple of screens are connected to the satellite and downloading the needed files to the tracer. This screen" she pointed to the one on her lower right-hand corner "Is the bug."

"That," Sutaasafaia said, bending over to get a closer look at the screen. She pointed to a small flashing light on the screen. "What's that?"

"Um." Sonia began typing once again. A world map appeared onscreen, with the light appearing on the southern part of the United States. "It looks like our little bug is trying to tell us something."

She continued to type, this time with the world map closing in on the bleep. It stopped on Texas, on what looked to be the Gulf of Mexico.

"Is that where the tracer is?" Kagome asked. Sonia nodded. "Now as to whoever you planted it on, I don't know, but that's where they were."

"So what do you guys think?" Miroku asked. "Should we go tell Marshal Toutousai?"

"For what?" Sutaasafaia said. "They'll question our source. On top of that, they'll take Sonia to jail for tampering with government property."

"Sutaasafaia and I are still suspended, remember?" Kagome added. "So we wouldn't get to go. By the time they assemble a team, Naraku could be gone."

"So what do we do?" Shippou asked.

"That's easy," Kagome said after a moment. She reached for the pager, glancing to Sonia as she began to unhook it. "Is the new program downloaded?"

"Yup, sure is," she said with a nod. Kagome put it in her back pocket, then walked out of the bedroom toward the front door.

"Kagome!" The others ran behind her, stopping when she paused in the living room. "What's the plan?" Miroku asked. "Are we going?"

"Yup, we're going."

"Yay!" Sonia exclaimed. "A rescue mission! I want to go!"

"No-"

"She could be useful," Shippou said in Sonia's defense. "So why not let her come?"

Sutaasafaia, Kagome and Miroku glanced at one another for a second, then shrugged. "Fine with us," Sutaasafaia said. Sonia waited for everyone to file out of the apartment, then locked the door behind her, a backpack strapped on her back as she followed the others down the steps to the street below.

"So what now?" Shippou asked. "We're going to need transportation."

"No worries mate," Miroku said as everyone piled into the car. "I know someone who can help with that."

*12:43 PM*

"I know it's crap Inuyasha," Katrina cajoled softly, a spoonful of chili in her hand. "But it's all I could get for you that didn't look rancid."

"That looks worse," Inuyasha grumbled. "I don't want it."

"Please?"

Inuyasha turned his head, a little of the chili smudging on his cheek. "I don't want it."

"Fine then," Katrina sighed. She put the spoon back inside the chili cup, then sat it on a nearby table. "Be a baby if you must."

"Hey!"

Katrina giggled quietly, reaching up to wipe off the smudge as Inuyasha scowled at her. "You're so easy to pick on."

"Yeah, whatever."

"KATRINA!!!!!"

Katrina and Inuyasha turned to the door as Shu burst inside, his silver eyes bleeding red as he glared at them. "You!" He grabbed Katrina's arm, jerking her to her feet as Inuyasha began to growl. "Shut up pup!" he snapped angrily. He dragged Katrina out of the room and down the outer corridor, never waiting for her to get her bearings as she struggled to get free.

"Shu!" Katrina jerked against his grip, ignoring the blood that began to trickle down her arm when his claws dug in deeper. "What's wrong with you?"

"You want to know what's wrong?" he snarled viciously. He opened a door at the end of the hallway and tossed Katrina inside.

"That's what's wrong!"

Katrina raised herself to her hands and knees and looked forward, fighting the smile that threatened to spread on her face. The youkai inside the room stood around a lightening shield, each looking around warily as Shu glared down at Katrina.

"Lower it!" Shu demanded, his foot connecting harshly with Katrina's side. "Now!"

Katrina winced, but looked ahead. Rin stared back at her as she cowered from inside the shield, her frightened eyes lightening on Katrina for a second before looking toward the other youkai in the room. A deep rip was on one side of her black mini dress, her pantyhose ripped as well with one of her shoes sitting beside her.

"I can't."

"What do you mean you can't?" Shu snapped. "It's your shield, isn't it?"

"Yes, but-" she gasped as Shu fisted his hand in her hair, Katrina vowing to cut it when this was over as Shu glared down at her.

"Then why can't you lower it?"

Katrina took a calming breath, then explained as she glanced at the youkai around them. "I didn't raise the shield. She did."

"But you just said-"

"I cast a spell on her, yes, but I didn't raise the shield."

"Explain sister dear," Shu snarled once again. "I don't understand your trickery."

"The spell was to protect her if she felt threatened. Was it up when you visited her yesterday?"

"No."

Katrina exhaled in relief. "Then sometime between yesterday and today, something scared her. Did she have that rip in her dress yesterday?"

"No," Shu said suspiciously, casting his gaze to the others around them.

"The spell's purpose was to erect a shield when she felt threatened. One of your guards must have scared her, or tried to do something to her. Otherwise, the spell wouldn't have activated."

"Very clever Katrina," Shu said in admiration. "Who would have thought you'd do something to help me? I appreciate it. Now," he glared at the others around them, watching as one by one they broke into a sweat. "Which one dared to touch her?"

"You know which one," Katrina said through gritted teeth. "Just look for the one with the electric charge."

Shu released his hold on her slowly, much to Katrina's relief, and walked toward the youkai. He passed each one, touching each in the center of their foreheads. He traveled down the row to the last youkai, a rabbit youkai who stood against the wall nearest to Rin.

"Are you the troublemaker?" Shu asked as he raised his finger, a cruel smile on his lips as his finger made contact. A blue charge jumped from the rabbit youkai to Shu moments later, Shu's smile widening as the rabbit paled.

"Did I not leave specific instructions?" Shu asked as he turned to look at the others. "Didn't I ask you all to leave the human alone?" He watched as the others nodded solemnly, then turned to the rabbit youkai. "So why did you disobey me?"

"I'm sorry Shu," he stammered desperately. "I…I couldn't help myself. She's in heat an-"

"And you think that gives you free reign over my human?" Shu growled angrily. The rabbit paled further, his floppy ears drooping beside his head. "I-I'm sorry Shu. It won't happen again-"

"You'd better believe it."

Shu pressed his forefinger to the youkai's forehead, watching as the rabbit slowly began to freeze, the ice traveling down his neck to his extremities. Shu stepped away for a moment, surveying the damage before turning to the others.

"Learn his lesson well," he said dramatically, reaching for Katrina when she turned away. "Oh no little sister. You should see this too." He stared at the frozen youkai a moment, watching as it's eyes widened before smashing it head-first into the concrete wall behind it. It's head shattered into millions of minute pieces, leaving a headless frozen statue behind.

"Clean that up," Shu said casually. "Then return to your posts." He stood Katrina up, shaking her roughly before saying "Now drop the shield."

"I can't!" Katrina yelled. "She's the only one who can!"

"How so?"

"Once she doesn't feel threatened, the shield will fall on it's own."

"But we can't get food to her," Shu said in an attempt to see if Katrina was lying. "So you should drop the shield before she starves to death."

"Once again, I can't," Katrina huffed irritably. "So I don't know what we're going to do about feeding her."

Shu growled, shaking her again as another youkai stepped forward. "Shu?"

"Yeah Maten?"

"I think I can lower it."

Shu stopped immediately, Katrina's head sharply snapping forward. "Well then, get to it!"

Maten nodded immediately, turning toward Rin and her shield. He stared at it for a moment, then attempted to touch it. The shield bowed back, then snapped forward like a rubber band, throwing the lightening youkai backward without a single flux in power.

"That's a nice shield," Shu commented as Katrina attempted to gather herself. "You've gotten stronger."

"Thank you."

"You say it won't lower until she says so, right?" Katrina nodded. Shu sighed, then shrugged. "Alright then. We'll just have to wait. Until then," he shoved Katrina forward, then waved his hand in dismissal. "You may spend time with your mutt. It will be the last time, after all."

"What makes you say that?" Katrina asked.

"Because Naraku plans to put him in the regenerator tomorrow."

*5:37 PM, The Gulf of Mexico*

Kagome looked out the side of the helicopter at the oil rig below, then at the pager before nodding to Shippou. "This is it," she hollered over the fan blades.

"Right." He leaned toward the pilot seat, tapping Miroku on the shoulder and yelling Kagome's confirmation. Miroku nodded, hollering something to Sonia before moving aside.

"Here you go Kit," Miroku said as Shippou climbed to the pilot's seat. "You're turn to fly."

"How did you manage to talk that guy into this?" Sutaasafaia asked Miroku as he peered over the side of the helicopter.

Miroku turned around and gave her a sly grin. "The bloke owed me a favor," he hollered over the helicopter blades.

"What kind of favor?"

"$1400 worth of favors. I just cashed it in for this."

"Very cool Miroku," Sutaasafaia said with a grin. Kagome watched all this, her hands casually sliding through her hair and down her ponytail to the scarf wrapped at the base of it. She pulled the end of it to her face, her fingers tracing the blue and gold swirls in the cloth.

'You're alive,' she said to herself. 'I can feel it. I don't know how but I can. You may be a jerk Sesshoumaru, but I'm used to you now. I feel…different about you now. I love you, and if you can just be alive long enough for me to get to you, I promise to try to be more understanding of what you do.'

"So how are we getting down?" Miroku asked. Sutaasafaia tossed him a parachute, neither of them noticing Kagome standing near the edge of the helicopter.

'But…you've told so many lies,' Kagome reasoned, her hair and the scarf whipping in the swiftly moving wind. 'And I don't know if I can trust you…'

"What's the plan?" Miroku asked to Sutaasafaia. He glanced at her when he received no answer, finding her gaze to be on Kagome's back instead.

'I don't want to lose you again. Now that I know you, I can't imagine not having you in my life.' Kagome closed her eyes and sighed, her head tilted back slightly.

"Kagome?" Sutaasafaia called, then said it again before Kagome glanced back at her. "What are you doing?"

"I'm…thinking."

"Of what?" Miroku asked, noting how close she was to the opening of the helicopter. Kagome looked away from him, studying the oil rig below her. Half of it was on solid ground, while the other hung precariously over the water's edge. She turned back to Miroku and smiled.

"Of what to do."

"Great," Sutaasafaia yelled. "You got a plan?"

Kagome nodded.

"Then what is it?"

Kagome cast one last glance at them, then turned toward the rig. "I'm going to get him back."

And with that, she jumped from the helicopter.

----

{::audience revolts from the second cliffhanger in the past two weeks and begin to charge the stage::}

SF: Wait a minute! {::audience stops and quiets down::} If you guys charge my stage, how will I finish the next chapter?

Audience Member 1: You're wrong for this cliffhanger SF.

SF: I know, but at least the ball's rolling again. This chapter was just a filler, something to let you guys know what's coming in the next few chapters.

Audience Member 1: Not good enough! Get her!

{::SF scrambles for the rafters with the audience close behind her::}

Silver Fox: {::skidding onstage::} Hey! Wait a minute! I think I can change your mind!

Audience Member 2: How's that?

Silver Fox: {::skimming through the script::} There are only three chapters left before the first lemon chapter!

Audience: {::crickets chirp, then::} Yay!!!!!!!

Silver Fox: {::as SF flies down and pats him on the shoulder::} This proves, once again, that sex can solve anything. The responses and the preview for the next chapter is below.

Chapter Thirty-One: To Get You Back Part I: Into the Belly of The Beast

"Why are you so silent Anut? Are you afraid? Our dear sister Artemis wasn't as silent as you."…"Since you wish for death, I will personally bring it to you."…"And what do you want from me?" "Why, that's simple. I want you to die."

Responses:

Sesshyangel: Inu-chan is a regular nut. I don't know why he said that. Nope, this is not the big kabloo-ey. She's not in trouble, Naraku just clocked her really hard. Stupid prick. Naraku doesn't want Kagome in this one, and Shu's just using Katrina to get what he wants...which just happens to be Rin.

Kayrin: Don't worry about Kagome. She's a strong girl. She'll survive....hopefully. Muhahahahaha!

Hinoke: Calm down. I'm going to fix it. Shippou: {::with the script in his hand::} That's not what it says here. Sesshou: {::grabs the script::} What are you talking about ki-{::SF grabs the script and runs to the other side of the stage::} SF: You can't see it yet! Sesshou: How dare you snatch something from this Sesshoumaru! Hand that back! SF: No! You can't have it! And if you keep being a pest about it, I'll tell her what you did in the middle of class when you were 8! Sesshou: {::pales::} You wouldn't. SF: I'll do one better. I'll take her back there. So back off! Sesshou: {::walks away, grumbling evil thoughts::} SF: Jerk! Anyway, I'm going to fix it. {::Innocent smile at H's glare::} What? Who are you going to believe? Shippou, or me?

AkxTp: I know! That chapter was so violent! {::giggles happily::} Exactly my element! Oh, anyway, Katrina's me, which kind of explains a few things. Nope, Silver's not in this story. He's in 'A Kiss' on Mediaminer though. Shu is...complicated. He'll get explained in a few chapters. No probs about the college advice. I'm happy to give it. Oh, and I'll be more than happy to search through the books and find you're pie. I think I know which one you're talking about. You're name change is here, as you can see, along with what that piece of plastic was. I wrote the other chapter on the full moon, and another side of me comes out on the full moon.

Nankinmai: The Little Muse is a very clever girl...especially if you read the bio page. I don't know how she thought of that, but it was brilliant in it's simplicity. Anyway, Sesshou figured that the best way to hide something is to not hide it, so that's why he had it redesigned. The boys at the lab screwed up, and that's how Kagome came to have the necklace. 'Second Chance' was updated Sunday, just in case you haven't caught up to it by now. 'Reversal' will be updated sometime this week too. So much to do, so little time....

Sae-chan: Yeah, kinda. It's a mix of at least 50 movies I've seen in the past few years. Inuyasha forgave Katrina for one reason: She's a really good lay. No, I'm playing. For real, he forgave her because he loves her, and he could tell that she was really sorry. He still trusts her to some extent. Plus who wouldn't feel bad for a girl trying to rescue her father....Other than Naraku? I love those dots too!

Glass Thorn: Kagome's transmission works like this: She can't transmit in mid air, and she can't transmit to places she's never been. It's kinda like Nightcrawler on 'X-Men United' except for the mid air thing.

Fire Phoenix: Now you know I can't kill off Sesshou yet. I still need him. Sesshou: Yet!!! What are you planning crossbreed? SF: Now if I tell you, I'll have to tell everyone else. Don't worry though. I'm still debating a few things, and I should come up with some kind of ending by next month.

Dark Neko-Chan: Wow! You punked down Sesshou! Good girl! I can't believe you survived that...but then again, you are siblings. But, um, no cat fights, especially on stage. You're right, Sesshou was a real jerk, but he still has half a fic left. Anything can happen.

RED DAY: Sesshou has a rather large ego, and that's what's wrong with him. Don't be mad at him yet. I still have about 5 chapters to go.

BelleDayNight: I am. It's my brother's fault. He used to kick my butt and rub my face in it. Now I'm kicking his! ^.^

Jazzylady: Have you ever owned a dog whistle? I do, and I noticed that when I blow it, squirrels and stuff go about their day, but my dog snaps to attention. That's the effect of the sound wave Naraku used on Sesshou. Other youkai heard it, but it didn't effect them because their hearing isn't as sensitive as inu youkai. No problem about the question. I knew someone would ask it, so I had the answer prepped. If no one asked, I would have wasted time for nothing.

InsanexPsycho: Kagome lived, as I'm sure you know by now. Thanks for the cool vote with the necklace. I have no idea what movie I got that from. It might just be a bunch of them lumped together. Wouldn't surprise me.

Hyper Person: The title kinda refers to Sesshou and Katrina. See, they're both sheep in a way, with Sesshou secretly working for the military and Katrina working for Naraku. Neither really like the idea of doing what they're doing, but they have no choice. Both of them have reasons for the lies they've told, and have either tried to fix things in the past or are trying to fix things now.

Reality: Yeah, I know. I've always liked a straight villain and Naraku could be a lot worse to me. I don't think he's evil enough. But maybe I will after this chapter...

Jade Catseye: Thanks for the love! I'm so sorry about the cliffie, in this chapter, the past chapter, and the ones coming up. (I figured I'd apologize in advance.) Glad you liked the fluff at the beginning and hope you like the rest of the story! The end's coming soon, so be on the lookout!

Rosie: Kagome still loves him, but she can't help but be a little pissed off. She gets over it quickly, as I'm sure you can see. It's something about thinking someone's dead for a week to make you change your mind. Sorry about the errors. I should probaly invest in a beta reader...

Sukera, Moon-n-Universe-Goddess and Raine84: Thanks a lot! I'm coming with more soon!

Badgerwolf: Um...the sh*t hasn't hit the fan yet. Give it a few more chapters. I haven't written that chapter yet, so I'd better get hopping. Thanks for the c.d. love for Kats. I kinda worry about that. As to what kind of youkai Katrina is, she's an elemental falcon youkai in this one, as is her father Ra. Recognize the name? ~.^

MoonliteCrescndo: I haven't seen the one with him as a transvestite {::starts giggling at the mental picture::}, but you're right. My Sesshou is different than yours. He has a heart but it just takes him a while to admit to it. And yes, work was shitty. (You can say it.) My weekend was a bit better, especially Sunday. It was my birthday! {::dances around like a loon::} Oh, anyway, sorry about your weekend, I'm glad I'm not dead too, and I should holler at you soon.

Jade Garden: And just where have you been? Shame on you for pulling a poof! Heehee...I should talk huh? I pulled one last week. Shame on us both. Anyway, thanks for the chapter love.

Shinigami Clara: How on earth did you get flour to ignite? I can't do it! I'm jealous! Oh, anyway, um, I know I'm a bad girl. I get told that daily. I'm going to apologize early for this cliffie and the next four chapters. May as well warn you early.

HimitsuEnjeru: Nope, the necklace isn't the Shikon. It is...have you ever seen the movie 'Fortress' with the guy that played Raiden on 'Mortal Combat'? Well, in that movie there's a small holographic map of the entire prison inside this diamond-like crystal. That's kinda what the necklace is, just that in this case there's the controls to the weapons guidance systems on the satellite. There should be {::holds palm on her forehead and drums her fingers on top::} Um...there are 35(?) chapters in all, or at least I think so. This is the longest story so far, even though 'TimeLine' and 'A Kiss' are promising to be longer. Thanks for the ego boost, I need it.

White-Crystal: There should be at least 6 chapters left. I think six chapters. Don't take my word for it though. I might think of something tomorrow and we'll all be screwed. Miroku: Screw? Where? SF: {::clocks Miroku upside the head::} Try to stay on track Houshi-san. Anyway, thanks for the wonderful, and the amazing, and the review made total sense.

CloverX: You know, sometimes it is fun to be evil. I can see why Naraku likes it so much. Um, the darting thing...I didn't see the resemblance until you said something. You're right, as always. I do like reviewing, when my computer allows. It ate at least 20 reviews over the weekend.

Niamha: So sorry for the week long poof. I'll try really hard not to do it again. Most of the remaining chapters are long, so that's the good news. The bad is that this fic is almost over. Hope you're computer comes back to life!

Laina Inverse: Yeah, she's mad, but she's forgiving too. I'm not entirely sure why she's like that. Sesshou: It's to make the story progress, crossbreed. SF: Oh yeah. Oh, and I have a better idea than hitting Sesshou. {::evil grin::} Oh Sesshou.... Sesshou: What now cross- >ZAP!!!!< SF: {::giggling::} Hope you like!

Faded-Illusion: Thanks for the fave list! I'm honored. If I ever need anything, I'll be sure to give you a holler!

Tsuki Yume: Now of course you knew that that wasn't all! If not, then shame on you! You know I'm- Inu-chan: Twisted? SF: {::sigh::} {::chanting like a zen mantra::} I'm not going to zap him today. I'm not going to zap him today....Kagome: I think you've finally done it Inuyasha. Inu-chan: What? She was nuts to begin with! >Zap!< SF: Crap! Look what you made me do! Anyway, Inu-chan (in the bleeding story) really is a great guy. I think he might be in the anime too, it's just that he's such a jerk.

Thesta: Um, when it's too late? It's just a theory, but a sound one seeing how Sesshou is behaving. Cannon balls! LOL. I love it!

HellzAznGrl: French Pardoned. Just thought you'd like to know. Nope, they stabbed him, but they put him to sleep instead of killing him. The above chapter explains it better than I do. Thanks for the love!

Nymph Demon: Love forever...{::sigh::} Thank you Lucus. I know you're pissed about this chapter's ending too, so let me just apologize for it early. {::tries to hide evil grin::} It is absolutely necessary for the {::snicker::} progression of the chapter. I have to {::snort::} go now. I have something in my eye! {::walks offstage, cackling like a madwoman::}

Kagome: I almost didn't see you're review! Imagine how bad I would have felt when you told me I didn't respond to you! Oh, I'm so ashamed…and by the way; WHO BROUGHT SESSHOUMARU'S MOTHER TO THE CRIB!!!! {::starts to cry::} Just as I was going to get some too. Silver Fox: You know birds and dogs don't mix. SF: But kitsune and dogs do…{::starts to plot on the next full moon::} Silver Fox: Lordy-Lordy. She's bound to be gone for a while, so we'll have to continue this review at another time. She did say something about thanking you for your support and such as it was.

Familia-Ficz: No probs about the short review! I totally understand. You guessed the necklace huh? Very cool. You saw through my deception. Bet you don't know what happens next…~.^

Mediaminer:

Nan: Thanks so much! More's coming soon!

BlazingNymph7: The swords are still with Sesshou because he hasn't broken her heart. It takes more than a few lies to hurt some people, and Kagome just happens to be one of those people. Anyway, Kagome forgives as you guys can see, but she won't forget. Katrina's a falcon youkai with a very famous father. You'll meet him in the next chapter.

Lunabelle: You know, I wonder if the dog has a brain too. It makes me wonder. Thanks for the compliments, I do appreciate it. It's a little easier for me to write complex stories than simple stories because I'm confused-I mean, complex like that. I'm always thinking of different things at one time. Anyway, I'm glad you're digging the story and the next chapter promises to be a doozy.

Fireash: So sorry about that. Someone depressed me last week and it reflected in the chapters, this week's 'Trial' and last week's 'TBW' update. The sword still works, so Sesshou's still armed and dangerous.

Kitsune_Bi: : {::blushes::} Thanks for the love! I'm so flattered! I'll let you in on one of the many secrets of the story, since you've asked so nicely and all: Neither of them die, but they'll both wish they had.

IsisTheEgyptianGoddess: You and me both, but he is rather thick headed. That's why I try to pen Inuyasha the way I do. I couldn't stand two pigheaded jackasses running around me. Talk about a muscle headache. Anyway, glad you like it! I felt bad about the poof I pulled on you guys, and that's why the last chapter was so long. The next couple of chapters are long too!

Lady Sesshoumaru: I know...but I just can't seem to get her to do it. I'm a wuss. Inu-chan: You sure are! You'll get her to cuss me out and fry me in a nano-second, but Sesshou get- Kagome: You know what a nano-second is? Inu-chan: Yeah. I've been reading SF's books. Sesshou: Yes, the crossbreed is an avid scholar. SF: Whatever. Anyway, (I find that I say that a lot lately.) I'm rather proud of myself! 29 chapters is a shocker for me! I'm normally bored myself. Katrina proves herself in a few chapters, and everything becomes right with the world. My sister hasn't started school yet. She turns 4 in Feb. I can't wait though. On her first day, I'm going to be standing outside the school, doing a really Funky Chicken, and singing 'O Happy Day!' to the top of my lungs while Moms cries beside me. I can't wait!

S1Cherry: I say that all the time! Nope, that was Agent Terrence Kenji, not Shu. That was his first chapter. Me too about the weekend thing. Especially when I don't have to work. Kouga's assistant was a surprise for LLF too, or at least I hope it is. She hasn't said anything yet. I do like to write rocky relationships, but this one is my fave. Thankies for feeling some sympathy for the poor girl. Most folks just want to fry her. Kagome-girl is fine, just like I promised.