Chapter 9
Making Plans
"Seems like a stretch to me," Koga replied as he popped his neck.
Koga didn't understand everything that was going on but, the Alpha was aware enough to know Kagome's trouble with Naraku was more than he expected.
If Naraku had been after the Jewel even before Kagome was born, then that meant his determination to get the thing was not to be under-estimated.
This wasn't a weak yokai leaping on an opportunity for power. This was an obsession that had festered for years.
But, still, to think a disappeared bandit was the start of that monster….it was thin at best.
"The taint was similar," Sango countered. "Different but similar enough."
Koga snorted. "Many yokai have similar auras. Doesn't mean that was him."
"Doesn't mean it wasn't either," the taijiya argued. "Do you want to take the chance?"
Koga didn't have time to chase down every dirt-path searching for Naraku. The fool was injured and would need to den up for a time to heal, provided he could. Once they got the chance, they needed to follow the trail to his—
"You won't find him," Kagome replied, rich eyes looking up at him with pleading pain as if she could read where his thoughts were headed. "He always manages to scatter his trail."
Koga studied his woman's face with furrowed concern. That did make things difficult. Very, in fact.
Ookami were master hunters and part of that was their talent for tracking scent.
"It wouldn't be too hard if I had a concentrated area of his aura," Koga answered, confidently. "One that can hold his scent for a while."
"How about a cave that's been undisturbed for nearly fifty years?" Sango offered with a cocked brow.
Koga glared in grudging irritation. That would be difficult. Time would have worn it down but, if the wind hadn't dissipated it then….there might be a chance.
"No."
Kagome's soft decline had Koga snapping bright eyes towards her, dark brows rising in surprise. The pain in his woman's eyes was like a knife to Koga's gut, causing him to tighten his grip on her trembling hand.
"Kagome—" Sango started to argue but Kagome cut her off short.
"I said, no," Kagome demanded, her lower lip starting to wobble.
Koga growled low in his throat as he wrapped one of his arms about his woman's form. She seemed so tired but refused to give into the exhaustion he could practically taste in the air.
"Kagome," Koga whispered in her ear, causing her to stop her trembling. "Do you want to go back?"
"I can't go back," she added stiffly. "I can't."
"Because of him?" Koga asked, his grip tightening around her.
"I can't risk Naraku returning to village to destroy it," Kagome answered, her tone heavy.
"I don't think we can risk not taking this chance," Sango quickly countered, causing Koga to glare in warning at the female taijiya. However, she ignored the silent threat. "Naraku is injured. That means he'll need time to heal. If we can determine that cave was where he was first created, then Koga can get a clear scent of him. And, maybe be able to track him down."
Koga saw the logic in the taijiya's plan. However, he didn't like the way Kagome's entire body went rigid in his arms. Did the idea of returning to her people frighten her that much?
"I only barely saved them when he followed me from the village," Kagome replied. "If Naraku returns…..I'll never forgive myself."
Once again, Koga vowed to end the hateful creature for the pain he caused her. Kagome had been terrorized for years and now the idea of going home had her ready to burst into tears.
He wouldn't have that! His woman would fear nothing.
"He won't harm your village," Koga vowed, leveling his gaze to meet his woman's. "I will kill him first."
The promise was only the start of what Koga wanted to give to his Kagome. He would ensure she was safe for the rest of his life. But, first, he would give her the one thing he could. Hope. The hope to go back to her family, to see her people again.
"Besides," Sango quickly added. "With the Jewel now out in this world, we can't risk it being captured by other yokai that would use it. Your village was the safest place it was kept. It is possible we can get answers on what to do with it there."
That was also true. Koga certainly had no idea what to do with the thing!
While he would admit, the prospect of power that great was tempting. His tribe would literally be unstoppable! However, he already had the great ancestral power of his people. His Goraishi!
His people were recovering not from one great blow but two. The Jewel would only make them a bigger target to who knew what. It was a dangerous trap. The promise of power but power everyone wanted.
Even if he took it back to his tribe, it would mean they would never have peace. Any yokai greedy enough would want it. No, the Jewel had to be gotten rid of.
"But—"
"Kagome," Koga interrupted gently. "If you want me to take you to your family, I will. I will take you back to your village."
The offer was painful to the Alpha. He knew home for him was among his people with Kagome by his side. But, she had run to save her village. Home for her was probably still there. Who knew what was waiting for her there. Her family, friends, or….
No! She had said there wasn't anyone else. Koga wouldn't add to his worries with his imagination. He had enough to deal with. If his woman wanted to see her family, he'd damn-well take her to see her family!
And, she wanted to. He could see the desperate longing in Kagome's eyes as she struggled with what to say. She wanted to go home but feared the consequences. But, Koga was determined. All she had to do was ask and he would protect that village himself, if need be.
"I….I don't know…. I—"
The door suddenly sliding open snapped the group to attention as the old, rounded monk poked his head into the room.
"Oh," he quipped, as if pleasantly surprised to see them there. "I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wished to inform the Alpha, his men are awake and, apparently a bit confused on what they are to do."
Koga grunted low under his breath. Those two…..
Giving Kagome's hand another comforting squeeze, he was relieved to see her nod in understanding.
"Go on," she urged. "We'll talk later. Promise."
Koga wasn't exactly pleased to leave his woman's side but, it was obvious she was wanting to think. The alert look in her eyes always gave away her need to be lost in her thoughts. If it was what she needed, he would give it to her.
Lifting her soft hand towards his face, Koga breathed in her scent deeply before pressing his mouth against the smooth skin in a kiss. The pretty flushing on Kagome's face saw him out of the room as he went to see what those two knuckle-heads needed to find their own tails.
SSS
Master Mushin didn't stay around after Koga left the room. And, Kagome was grateful the old hoshi wasn't prone to teasing over what he just saw.
Really, Koga had no shame when it came to public affection!
While Kagome wasn't the most-shy of individuals, she still found his daring a little unbalancing. Especially, when there were other people to witness what he said and did.
Still, the warmth of his lips on her skin still lingered on the back of her hand, causing Kagome to blush deeper in pleased wonder. That man was incorrigible.
"Well," Sango replied as she cleared her throat in slight embarrassment. "It looks like you and Koga have worked things out."
Kagome could only give her friend a shy smile. "Things are….improving."
"For what it's worth, I'm happy for you," Sango added. "Koga is a good man,… for all his faults."
"He is," Kagome agreed softly.
Kagome didn't bother scolding Sango for her opinions. The taijiya had been taught from birth that yokai were the enemy. It was their way as hunters.
To simply admit that Koga was good was a huge step for Sango. So, if her friend was willing to support Kagome's decision to stay with Koga, if she stayed with Koga, then she'd take the blessing she could get.
"He's also right," Sango added, leveling her eyes in that look Kagome knew all too well. Sango was determined to get her way. "Koga could easily defend your village from Naraku if he tried to return."
Kagome sighed forlornly. Count on Sango not to waste any opportunity.
"You know as well as I do, Naraku wouldn't attack directly," Kagome countered. "He'd use trickery and try to rip my village apart. Just like he tried to do with the ookami. Like he did—"
Immediately, guilt gripped Kagome as she saw the hardening of her friend's eyes.
"Like he did my home," Sango finished for her.
Kagome cursed her foolish tongue for saying something so hurtful. Sango wasn't trying to be malicious. She was trying to find a solution.
There was a chance she could be right. That her suspicions would reveal the truth of Naraku's birth and possibly the key to his defeat. But, if she was wrong…..
"I don't wish the fate of my people on anyone," Sango replied tersely, looking every bit like a scolding mother glaring down a misbehaved child. "But, our plans haven't worked. We are fighting blind. If we want any chance to stopping Naraku, we have to figure out what he is and how he can be defeated."
"I know," Kagome answered. "I just…. I've learned it's dangerous to gamble."
"It may not be as big of a gamble as you think," Sango replied with an understanding smile.
"What do you mean?"
"When Kaede found out I had seen you, she asked me to tell you there was another reason you were needed back," Sango informed. "She said, you didn't have the full story."
Kagome blinked in startled shock as she struggled to process what this could mean.
"I…the full story?"
Sango nodded. "She said there was much she didn't tell you because she wasn't sure if you were ready. And, by the time Naraku showed up, there wasn't any time left."
"But, what did she not tell me?" Kagome asked, her eyes pleading to her dearest friend.
But, Sango only shrugged helplessly.
"I don't know," Sango replied. "She said it was too important to tell anyone else. That it had to be you and only you."
Kagome felt her thoughts spinning inside her own head. She knew there was still much she had to learn when she left your village. Her training was by no means done. But, to think Kaede had purposefully withheld information from her….. it was mind-boggling.
If Kaede was willing to risk telling this to Sango, a stranger who claimed to know Kagome, then that meant what she knew was important.
But, that would mean she'd have to go home.
Kagome swore she would never step foot inside that village again until Naraku was defeated once and for all. But, what if the way to defeat him was in that village? Was that the point she was missing in all this?
Naraku was a master manipulator. Had he been drawing her further and further away from the very thing that could stop him?
There was no way to know, unless she took the chance.
Meeting Sango's steady gaze, Kagome knew arguing was a waste of breath. The taijiya was going with or without her. She'd probably even drag Koga with her, if she could figure out a way to do it.
Sighing in quiet defeat, Kagome gave a slight smile. "When do we leave?"
SSS
Pain wracked every inch of his body.
Naraku was never one to indulge in self-pity. It was worthless to his plans. But, he would admit, the wound the ookami Alpha had inflicted on him was more than he expected from the hot-headed fool.
Even now, it was taking everything he had to keep himself together. What was that weapon?
Naraku snapped that line of thought from his head as he gritted his teeth through another wave of rebellious agony.
It didn't matter! Whatever tool that foolish wolf got his hands on didn't make a bit of difference. He would still get what he wanted. He'd also be the one to stab that weapon into the Alpha's gut and rip him open with it! But, one thing at a time.
First thing was first. Naraku had to pull himself back together. Already, the insistent buzzing of the saimyosho filled his ears as they worked with constant diligence to repair his shredded body.
That would help but Naraku knew he had to do more. Preparation was half the battle and he'd been taken by surprise. It wasn't going to happen again.
"You," Naraku called lazily as one of the large insects hovered above his face. "Go back to the temple. Stay out of sight but watch what they do, where they go. Be my eyes."
The insect gave no reply before it flew out into the darkening sky.
