Chapter 21 I hope you like this chapter. I know it was long in coming! Enjoy please!!
"Nyoko could you please tell us the whole of your conversation with your friend?" Kagura asked as Nyoko and Kagome sat in the middle of the table.
Nyoko nodded and quickly repeated as much of the conversation word for word as she could. Her fingers latched around her necklace and in conclusion she added, "I know that it could simply be gang wars but I feel that its more than that." She felt Kagome touch her arm gently and Yasu squeeze her thigh in support and it brought tears to her eyes. For so long after her parents died she'd felt alone, only Ms. Nozoma had been around for a while and then Yasu but other than that she'd had no one.
Kagome could see the fear in Nyoko's eyes, the terror. Her eyes had probably looked the same once upon a time but Nyoko had not gone though battle as she had, as they all had. She probably never hurt anyone intentionally before let alone killed someone. But here she was…training in dangerous weapons and magic to help and protect them. "I agree with Nyoko. It stinks of something Naraku would do. After all, he started as a bandit and killed their leader to take over. A gang is much the same as a band of bandits, no offense to your friend." Kagome added giving Nyoko a small smile and receiving one in return.
"And timing is too much of a coincidence." Miroku murmured.
"It's kind of like the old days when Naraku would throw all these low level demons at us." Sango continued.
"But what exactly is he planning?" Kosuke asked them in general. "Is he just out to kill us for past hatred or does he have some plan?"
"If he is as stupid as I remember, he probably wants to take over the world. He probably doesn't realize that demons are hiding." Inuyasha snorted. It was hard for him to deal with the fact that he had to wear modern clothing and cover his ears when he went out. A hat on his ears muffled the sounds and he didn't like it. He couldn't imagine Naraku even noticing.
"If it wouldn't endanger our world and a lot of innocent people I'd send him to the police or a mental institution." Sesshomaru growled.
"But it would do both unfortunately." Kagura sighed. "Really all we can do is just wait for him to make the next move. It'd be suicide to go looking for him, especially if as we believe, he has what amounts to an army to back him up."
"So what do we do then?" Nyoko asked studying each of their faces.
"We step up training and wait for him to come to us." Sesshomaru decided. "Yasu continue Nyoko's naginata's training. Kagome, you, Shippo and Kosuke make with her or dealing with fire and I will continue to help with your own powers. Kagura continue with Sango and Miroku. Kioko…" He paused then sighed. "You can spar with Inuyasha."
Kioko jumped to her feet in joy. "Really!?"
Inuyasha frowned. "Why is my fur on end?"
Kioko left to prepare for the next day of 'joyous fun' and Sesshomaru smirked. "You'll just have to wait and find out."
"That's evil Fluffy." Inuyasha grumbled.
Kagome laughed quietly. "Everyone get to bed. We'll get to work early in the morning."
Kagome stood uncertainly at the door that separated her room from Inuyasha's and stared at it confused by her own thoughts. It's not like I intend to jump his bones. I just want to sleep in the same room as him tonight. We slept together practically every night in the past. She nodded determined and finally knocked lightly on the unlocked door.
Inuyasha opened it revealing himself wearing a wife-beater and sweatpants with his long hair brushed back. "Kagome?" He asked confused.
She smiled and held out a hand that just barely trembled. "I miss sleeping with you near me. Would you stay with me tonight?" She asked nervous. It wasn't that she thought he'd deny her, but she wasn't usually so forward.
His eyes softened and he moved forward to take her hand. "Of course." He led her gently to the bed and laid behind her atop the covers he'd tucked her into and squeezed her hand. "So what's bothering you?"
Kagome chuckled wiping her eyes gently on the pillow case. "Can't get anything passed you can I?"
"Keh. As if." He replied studying her face.
After a long moment she sighed. "Naraku has infected the body of a boy who used to be my friend. If we fight Naraku and kill him…won't Hojo die as well?"
Inuyasha took a while answering. This was something no one had considered and Kagome hadn't brought up in front of the others. They'd been so focused on the fact that Naraku was back, they'd ignored how he'd come back. "Probably." He admitted then began to panic as tears filled her eyes. "But maybe you can force him from Hojo with your powers." He tried to reassure her.
"You think?" Kagome whispered sniffling. She gazed up at him her heart in her eyes.
"If anyone could do it, it'd be you Kagome." He told her gruffly. He stiffened as she threw herself at him and wrapped her arms around him.
"Thank you Inu." She whispered and finally let herself relax. "I love you." She murmured seconds before falling asleep.
Inuyasha gave the sleeping girl a small smile. "Keh, I love you Kagome."
The next morning Kioko kidnapped Inuyasha rather early and Kagome made her way to Nyoko's room. She grinned when she caught Yasu leaning against the doorframe and studying the still sleeping Nyoko. "She'd hit you if she caught you spying." Kagome taunted quietly leaning against the other doorjamb.
Nyoko was covered with the thick white comforter and her hair fanned out across the pillows like black wings and her face calm and beautiful in repose.
"I worry if I hadn't met her, would all this still happen to her?" Yasu asked quietly. "Did I bring her to this war?"
Kagome shook her head. "Not anymore than Inuyasha brought me. She would be much worse off without you." She squeezed his arm. "I'm going to get Kosuke and then we'll meet you and Nyoko in the dojo."
Yasu nodded and listened to her go before entering the room. Mika cooed at him as he bent over her crib and smiled at her. "Hey beautiful." He whispered and lifted her into his arms. It amazed him how quickly he and Mika had taken to each other. When he'd first thought she was Nyoko's he'd been hesitant but willing to accept her, when he'd heard the whole story he was even more ready to accept her into his family but she'd grabbed onto his heart and demanded his love. He snuggled her against his neck and rested his nose in her downy hair smelling the gentle scent of baby.
Nyoko opened her eyes slowly and blinked in the soft light of her room. She turned her head to peer at Mika's crib and her breath caught in her throat. Yasu stood by Mika's crib cuddling the small infant close to his chest and seemingly was lost in the moment. Oh she loved that man. She had tried to push it away, force it to slow to an understandable speed rather than the breakneck pace with which she'd fallen. If he wanted her, as he claimed he did, he'd taken so many pains to prove it. She couldn't help but cave under the devotion he held for her. "Yasu." She called out gently sitting up and patting the blankets next to her.
He gae her one of his gentle smiles and sat beside her and felt his heart swell when she let her head drop to his shoulder and gave a finger to Mika. "Good morning."
"Morning." She replied yawning. Her hair was a bit tousled and her face was still soft with sleep and Yasu thought she'd never looked so beautiful. "Whose Mika going to be with as we work today?"
"Ms. Higurashi and Merry agreed to watch her together. Souta is in charge of the old people." He chuckled. "We should go down soon."
She nodded and slipped out of the bed to the bathroom. She paused and looked back at him, her eyebrows raised. "How'd you get in my room?"
He laughed nervously and disappeared out the door with a giggling Mika.
Review please!!! Training is all next chapter!!