Trigger warning: violence

*sweats profusely*

Disclaimer: I don't own Inuyasha or its characters. All rights to Rumiko Takahashi.

Chapter 31: The Bargain

Inuyasha was antsy for the rest of the week.

His mind had been racing with ideas on how to go about finding Naraku. He was hoping to receive another phone call from Kagome before he put his plan into action, but he hadn't heard from her.

It's fine, he mused. I'll see her soon enough. Once this is over, everything will be as it should.

And, man, did he have plans for himself and Kagome.

He was kneading dough a bit harder than usual as his thoughts spiraled into the future, as they had been for what felt like months.

Which, he supposed, was true given Kagome's presence in his life.

He was so lost in thought that when Miroku peeked into the kitchen to ask him if he wanted to order take-out for lunch, Inuyasha jumped and dropped the entire mound of dough he'd been kneading.

"Sorry, Inuyasha," Miroku said immediately. "Are you okay? You seem...edgy."
Inuyasha sighed and bent down to pick up the dough and toss it into the trash.

"I'm fine," he replied as he pulled out the ingredients he needed to start a new batch of dough. "I'm just...thinking about Kagome."

Miroku hummed. "I'm sorry. Maybe lunch will help? What are you in the mood for?"

Inuyasha closed his eyes for a moment. "I'll cook. I'm making new dough anyway. You good with pasta? Maybe fettuccine alfredo?"

The ache was only getting worse.

"Sure," Miroku said with a sympathetic smile. "We've got so much extra stuff. I don't even think you need to bake anything else today."
Inuyasha shrugged and resumed what he was now going to use as dough for the pasta.

"I probably will anyway," he replied. "Gives me something to do."
"And some dough to punch," Miroku added. Inuyasha couldn't hide his amusement.

"And some dough to punch," he echoed.

After Miroku went back out to the store, Inuyasha grabbed eggs, oil, and salt to go with the flour he would be using for the pasta.

It would be the first time in a while that he would be eating the fettuccine alfredo without Kagome, but it was nice to think about the memories that came with the meal.

"You have a really nice smile…"

That was when Kagome had really started to etch herself onto his heart. His mother had been the only one to ever mention his smile, and Kagome was the first to say it since Izayoi died.

Blue eyes illuminated his mind as he got the pasta ready to boil. After he put it in the pot, he grabbed the alfredo sauce from one of the cabinets and poured it in a pan to heat up.

It kept his mind occupied and focused on the memory of the time he'd cooked for her, and then his mind drifted to the first time they'd hugged and then held hands and finally kissed.

And even though he was alone, he blushed a little at all of the pleasant memories.

How long will it be before we can do all that again? he wondered as he drained the pasta after it was finished boiling. How much longer do we have to be apart?

He didn't have an answer.

But at least he had pasta.

o.O.o

After a few more sleepless nights, Inuyasha finally had a plan.

It was dangerous, and deadly, and honestly terrifying, but Inuyasha was desperate.

He was going to hunt down Naraku.

Inuyasha hadn't told Miroku or Sango his plan for fear they would want to get involved, so he waited until the weekend to put it into action.

I don't even know where to start, though...maybe I could go to Kagome's apartment. Maybe Naraku will show up...it's possible he doesn't know she left.

With Kagome in another place out of harm's way, Inuyasha wasn't afraid.

He would take down Naraku for Kagome, for Sango, and for his mom.

Inuyasha tossed on a black sweatshirt and put the hood up, concealing his ears and hair from sight. He slipped on sunglasses, too, despite the darkened evening to cover the gold of his irises.

If Naraku were to see him and recognize him, his plan would be over before he could even start it.

Inuyasha hurried to Kagome's apartment building and rushed up the stairs until he reached her door. It was locked, but he managed to work his claw into the lock and flip it, allowing him to get inside.

Once inside, he paused.

Kagome's scent, although obviously old, was still heavy in the apartment.

Inuyasha closed his eyes and took a deep breath, letting the aroma of Kagome wash over him.

I miss her…

It only fueled his fire.

Pulling himself from his thoughts, closed the apartment door and didn't bother locking it. Finally, he went into Kagome's bedroom and got in her bed, leaving his hood up and laying down with his back to the window, hoping to trick Naraku into thinking it was her so he would leave another note. She'd taken her blankets with her, so Inuyasha curled up in an attempt to seem smaller.

It was already rather late, so it wouldn't look odd that he was already in the bed.

Naraku probably won't expect me to be there. If he's watching her apartment, he wouldn't have realized I went there because I covered up my features. He'll think Kagome is there alone for the night, which works out well.

As he lay there, he tried to think of the best way to ambush Naraku and hopefully catch him by surprise.

He's already gonna think I'm Kagome, Inuyasha mused. So when I get up in the morning, he'll think she's just going to use the bathroom or get something to eat in the kitchen. Then if he tries to leave another note, I'll be able to catch him by surprise.

He stayed awake all night, unable to fall asleep as he waited for the morning sun to rise.

About an hour after the sun rose, he got up, unlocked Kagome's window, and walked into the living room to stand right outside the bedroom, ready to put his plan into action.

Sure enough, a moment after he stepped outside the bedroom, Inuyasha heard something at the window.

He took a deep breath and burst back into the room, hoping to catch Naraku off-guard and introduce him to his claws.

No such luck.

The window was already open, and Naraku was half-inside the room when Inuyasha realized what was happening.

"Did you really think you could fool me?" Naraku asked menacingly. "From one hanyo to another, I must say I'm disappointed in your stupidity. You're a disgrace to the youkai blood that runs through your veins."

A shiver went up Inuyasha's spine; he'd never heard Naraku speak before, and he was horrified that Kagome had to suffer through his instruction every day.

Inuyasha's eyes widened as he took in the sight before him.

But then his words registered…

Hanyo?

Naraku was grinning evilly before he pulled a knife from his sleeve and lunged at Inuyasha.

Inuyasha didn't have time to react before Naraku landed a hit, stabbing him deeply in the stomach.

Inuyasha gasped at the hot flash of pain.

Stumbling backward, he tripped on the bed as Naraku came at him again.

Feeling the knife stab him once more, Naraku shoved Inuyasha to the ground.

Head colliding roughly with the floor, Inuyasha fell limp and everything went black.

O.o.O.o.O

Kagome lounged on the bed in her hotel room, flipping through the TV channels as she waited to hear from a local convenience store about a job opening.

She was hoping to start working as quickly as possible; she had money saved up, but it definitely wouldn't last forever.

Her thoughts, as usual, drifted to Inuyasha, as well as Sango and the life she'd left behind.

She could only pray that her leaving would keep them safe; if something happened to them, Kagome didn't know how she would live with herself. She'd disconnected her phone before leaving the city, so she'd given the local store the number for her hotel room, but she would need to go to the payphone nearby to call Inuyasha.

Is it too soon to call again? she wondered. It's been a few days...I think it would be okay. It's Saturday, so he'll probably have more time to talk.

Glancing at the clock, she saw it was mid-afternoon. Inuyasha might have been eating lunch, so Kagome got up from her bed, grabbing her room key and some change before leaving the hotel room.

She walked the short way to the payphone and pulled out her spare change. Dialing Inuyasha's number, she smiled to herself, already feeling butterflies in her stomach as she waited for him to pick up.

When the phone rang four times, Kagome's smile began to fade. After the sixth ring, she began to worry.

"It's Inuyasha. Text me instead. I hate answering the phone."

The recording for his voicemail echoed in her ear, so Kagome hung up, put more change in, and dialed again.

That time, the phone rang twice before Inuyasha picked up.

But...he didn't say anything.

"Inuyasha?" Kagome said hesitantly. "Are you okay, honey?"

A soft laugh came from the other line.

"Oh, Kagome. If you only knew the state he's in."
Kagome's eyes widened and gasp tore from her throat at the sound of the voice that haunted her every nightmare.

"Naraku!" she shrieked. "What did you do to him? Where is he?"

Naraku laughed again. "Let's just say he's a bit predisposed at the moment. He adamantly refused to tell me where you are, so I had to use some rather...unconventional methods to get it out of him. Congratulations, though. He's quite loyal. What was it he kept saying? 'I'll tell you over my dead body?'" Naraku chuckled. "That could be arranged…"
"He doesn't know where I am," Kagome replied. "I didn't tell him. Now leave him alone!"

"I suppose you want him to die then, hm?" Naraku asked. "I will have what I want from you."
"What do you want?" Kagome said, ignoring his question, her voice rising in panic. "I won't go to the police! I won't report you, I swear. Just leave Inuyasha alone!"

Naraku scoffed. "Oh, you stupid girl. So simple-minded. I need you, actually. I certainly am glad you heeded my message. I needed to get you away from this pathetic hanyo so I could take care of him before coming for you. Sango is next."
"No!" Kagome cried. "I'll do whatever you want. Just leave them both alone!"

Naraku hummed. "Would you exchange yourself for them? You're the only one I truly need."
"Yes," Kagome replied immediately. "I'll do anything. Just don't hurt them."
Kagome heard quiet groaning from the other line as well as a pained call of her name.

"Inuyasha?" she said. "Can you hear me?"
"No, Kagome! Don't listen to him! He's a han-"
A shout of pain came from him before Inuyasha fell silent again.

"My, my," Naraku cooed. "He is a feisty one. Can you believe it took two stabs to get him down?"

Kagome felt tears running down her cheeks. "You stabbed him? Stop! Where do I need to meet you?"

"Meet me at the sight of your shrine," Naraku informed her. "Tonight. If you don't show up, Inuyasha and Sango will die. Are we clear?"

"Yes," Kagome whispered, and then Naraku hung up.

Kagome released a choked sob as she dropped the payphone receiver and ran back to the hotel. She needed to pack up and book the next bus back to the old shrine.

I didn't think I would ever go back home, she said as she used the hotel's computer to book a ticket before packing up her stuff. But this is life or death. I'm bargaining with the devil.

She found a bus that would leave within the hour and nearly lost her mind when the cost of the ticket was almost the entire amount of money she had saved up.

After she booked the ticket, she saw that she would get to the bus station that was closest to the shrine at eight that night.

Why does Naraku want me to meet him at the shrine? she wondered. What could he possibly want there?

There was no time for her to question anything. She just needed to get there.

She rushed to the bus station, nerves shot, as she waited for the bus to come.

Just hang on, Inuyasha. I'll save you.

To be continued...

*sweats even more profusely*