Chapter 23: Shippo & Sessho-maru's Plan

With in Sessho-maru's mansion sat the seven companions. Nanny and Nai-chan sat by each other on the couch; Leeta leaned against the wall as Shippo sat upon her shoulder. Kirara stood by the window, a chair in front of her where Inu-Yasha sat. Sessho-maru sat in his own armchair with his elbows resting against the arms, his hands together, fingers intertwined in thought. Every so often Rin would come by his side or offer their guest tea, but Sesshy would tell Rin to go and do something.

"So where do you think, Kago is?" Leeta asked as Sesshy looked at her, "Most likely the island Shikoku, Kochi."

"Wha? That's clear across Japan!" Inu-Yasha yelled as Sessho-maru looked at him, "If you where a crime lord my dear half-brother would you stay close to a crime scene that you where part of?" Not receiving an answer Sessho- maru nodded as Nanny-chan spoke up, "But if she is that far away in such a small amount of time, how can we get there?" she asked as Inu-Yasha looked at her as Sesshy answered that they would us a plane.

"Whose we?" Inu-Yasha growled as Kirara spoke out, "You don't think we would let you go off all by yourself do you?" with that she glanced at him with her demonic eyes. "I can take good care of myself." Inu-Yasha snapped

"Yeah, sure Inu." Nankinmai stated, "But not against a whole area surrounded by criminals." Leeta nodded, "That would be suicide. Besides you can't go in undercover as one of them, they know who you are buddy. That's where we come in."

"Whoa, hold it, if you all come then what about Sango and Miroku?"

"Kaede will be staying here to watch 'em." Leeta said as Shippo hopped over to Nanny-chan's shoulder. "I'm coming." He announced as Inu-Yasha crossed his arms, "I refuse to baby-sit!"

"I am not a baby!" Shippo protested as Nanny spoke up, "You know we will need the kitsune, he shape-shifts and that will be a plus on our side."

"Feh!" he replied as Nankinmai smiled at him, her eyes sparkled, Inu-Yasha looked at her with an annoyed expression, "Nani?!" She continued to smile, "Nothing, pup." She said as he was about to say something but his elder brother stopped him. "All agreed, good."

"We will leave tonight, I advise you all to prepare yourselves, I will not help you if you get in a tight situation. Inu-Yasha and Nankinmai you are one group, the next is Nanny and Kirara, followed by Leeta and Shippo."

"What about you?" Kirara asked as Sessho-maru closed his eyes, "I will hidden and give you all directions and instructions." He said as he then opened his eyes. "Now, it is becoming late, I will see you all tomorrow." He said in his composed voice as he stood up.

* * * * * *

As Shippo rode upon Kirara's shoulder, he sighed as he thought. His mind was else where, pondering on what was happening with Kagome. He whimpered slightly as Kirara looked over at him. "What is wrong?" she asked as Shippo looked down at the ground, "I don't know, Kirara. I'm worried I guess." He said as she nodded, he contained to look at the ground. That's when something hit him.

About Sessho-maru's plan, he was going to be used as the diversion, he didn't like that much. But what if he found Kagome first? What if he saved her? He smiled slightly at the sight of Kagome smiling at him; she was like a sister/mother to him. That's when he decided to make his own plans.

* * * * * *

Kagome looked at herself in the mirror, a large bruise rested upon right side of her pale face, and her arms held the impression of fingerprints from where Naraku had held her roughly. She removed her robe to gaze at her wounded, bleeding sides from where his claws scraped across her skin. Her legs held small bruise from a beating or two, she did care really, and she had other things upon her mind. She felt the warm stream of liquid flowing down the side of her face. She placed a hand over the spot and then glanced at her fingertips, blood.

She closed her fist and punched the mirror in disgust, she hated the way she looked, the way she felt and the way she saw herself . . . as nothing. She closed her eyes as she felt the warm tears forming in her eyes. She chanted over and over that she would not cry, but it was no use, it was all in vain as the tears trickled down her face. Her hair covered her eyes as she left her fist in the broken mirror, glass dropping into the sink as well as her blood.

After a few moments she lowered her hand down, small pieces of glass fell into the sink her hand bleed as the moonlight within her window made the glass in her hand sparkle like a diamond. She stared at her hand for a long time until she sighed and removed the glass from her hand, never flinching for no psychical pain could hurt worse then the pain within.

She rinsed her hand in the sink watching the blood swim away into its deep dark pipe. She then reached in a shelf above the mirror and pulled out the first aid and dressed her hand. Once done and putting the box away she slide her robe back over her frail body and went back into her room.

She welcomed the darkness within her room, she did not see the crime lord and she went to her window slowly and leaned upon the window seal. Looking out in the deep dark sky and her gaze fell upon the moon. She wondered if a certain man she had fallen for was watching the same moon as her, that held the slightest hope.

* * * * *

Inu-Yasha drove done the road in his old 86 pick-up truck, the window was rolled down and his elbow rested against it as the side of his face rested against his knuckles. His sliver hair blew in the cold wind as he dove with on clawed hand on the steering wheel. His old radio was playing as he noticed the moon and he sighed as the radioman came on.

"Hello again to all you stalkers at night, that's right its midnight and for all of you love birds tonight we salute you with this song. This is Top- Kat signing off, good night."

A slow song, Inu-Yasha closed his eyes and was about to flip the radio off when the cong finally got to the words. His hand paused and then went back to the wheel, he smirked at the words, they where ironic:

hontou ni taisetsu na mono igai subete suttee * It would be nice if we could put away and throw out

shimaetara ii no ni ne * everything except what really mattered, but

genjitsu wa tada zankoku de * reality is just cruel.

sonna toki itsu date * In such times,

me o tojireba * I see you laughing

waratteru kimi ga iru * whenever I close my eyes.

* * * * *

Kagome sat down upon her bed and looked at the clock by it, she reached over and flicked it on, as she lay down upon her bed. She smirked a little as she heard the words:

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made * Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

dou ka sono egao ga * that smiling face will

taema naku aru you ni * have to stay with me without fail.

hito wa minna kanashii kara * People are all sad, so

wasurete yuku ikimono dakedo * they go and forget, but-

* * * *

Dust kicked up behind Inu-Yasha's truck as he went a little faster as he pulled into his drive way. He sat there listening to the words, not totally understanding why he knew what they meant:

aisubeki mono no tame * For that which I should love

ai o kureru mono no tame dekiru koto * For that which gives me love, I will do what I can

deatta ano koro wa * Back then, when we met,

subete ga bukiyou de * it was all awkward

toomawari shita yo ne * We went the long way, didn't we?

kizutsuke atta yo ne * We got hurt, didn't we?

* * * *

itsuka eien no nemuri ni tsuku hi made * Until the day I reach eternal sleep,

dou ka sono egao ga * that smiling face will

taema naku aru you ni * have to stay with me without fail.

deatta ano koro wa * Back then, when we met

subete ga bukiyou de * it was all awkward.

toomawari shita yo ne * We went the long way, didn't we?

tadoritsuitan da ne * We got there in the end.

Kagome suddenly got a strange sense of humor and said after the song, "Girl, you have no idea." With that and a smile on her face she drifted off into a restful sleep, one she had not had in a while.

* * * * *

Song: Dearest, 3rd Ending Song, Vocals: Hamasaki Ayumi

Okay, I know that song kind of fit into here, but I wasn't sure who to place it. So, I tried my best with it. Well I hope you enjoyed this little chappie. *smiles * Now it will start getting interesting again. The rest of the chapters will be kind of . . . . suspenseful shall we say.

HEHEHEHEEH! I cant BEILEVE I GOT SO MANY REVIEWS! Over 200!!!!! THANK YOU ALLL!!!!!!!!!!! * giggles insanely * Please do review! I am a HUGE Review junkie! LOL!

Well until next time, Kagome? Kago where are you?

Kagome: Nani? * she ask removing all her make up that looked like bruises.

Say good-bye

Kago: but I really don't want to. . .

Well you want to get on to the next chappie right?

Kago: . . .um I guess. . .

Then say god bye or this will suddenly turn into a Naraku/Kago

Kago: 0.0 NOOOOOOOOO!!!!

*grins evilly *

Kago: *clears throat and smiles * JA NE!

p.s. I will us two songs one romatic and the other fast passed for the next chapter and ill us the any u send to me, ill look at the lyrics and pick out the best. =)