Disclaimer: I'll only get to see two more episodes tomorrow… Sango finally comes!!

AN: Another day, another chapter. Ow… Volleyball hurts after the practice… really not fun. Anyways, I know that Psycho King wasn't quite fond of the last chapter, but understand, I am best at angst and the supernatural… Also, I'd like to add, I've taken out some of my angsty mood with a short story called Misty (fictionpress.com), so things may or may not brighten up soon. I don't think there's much more of this thing left, since my mind is beginning to wander…

Icari
Chapter 15

 "I told you it would work." Koga stopped in his tracks at the slithery voice that came from the trees. It was Naraku (did you think Koga was smart enough to make a plan himself? ^-^); the man who had told him how to win Kagome over. Normally, Koga wouldn't even think about helping him, but he had offered a deal impossible to leave be.

 It was like a trade, almost, but not quite. He had heard that should Inuyasha not convince Kagome that he cared within 20 days, his soul would be sucked by the sword Kikyo now possessed and he would be brought to hell no matter what. Naraku had promised him that he told only the truth, and should he take Inuyasha away and hand over any jewels shards he possessed, Koga would be given both Kagome and Kagura's heart to do whatever he pleased.

 This was something that Koga could not refuse, and he eagerly agreed. What did he want more than to rid his woman and himself of Inuyasha so they could live together, and kill Kagura in revenge. No, he had to take this offer, and would betray Naraku, for he had no desire for him to live as well, since his woman seemed to be after him. She would definitely love him after he disposed of the man who she tried to.

 And then life would be perfect.

 "She took the bait: hook, line and sinker. She'll come with me, and Inuyasha would be disposed of… and then we finish our deal." He practically trembled in apprehension; what could possibly spoil the life that awaited him?

 "Good, then I can guess you followed the plan?" Koga gave a curt nod. "Good. Continue the plan, and dispose of Inuyasha for the both of us. I shall see you then." Naraku sank into the bushes and disappeared, and Koga left seconds after that.

*~*~*~*~*

 "Sango," Miroku peered at the exterminator cautiously, trying to determine whether or not she was awake. When he knew she was, he continued, "I have been wondering… why did we betray Inuyasha? We both know he didn't mean what he said." Sango opened her eyes at the question and turned her head slightly to him from her spot against the tree.

 The night had long since come, and the little, broken group had decided that it would be in their best interests to set up camp. But, without Inuyasha, the place held an eerie silence, which was not the comfortable one they were used to. No, Inuyasha hadn't been lying when he had said he had to protect them, although…

 "I know he didn't but what he said about humans being 'pathetic' really made Kagome mad. She doesn't want to talk to him, and if you ask me, I think Kagome needs much more reassurance than Inuyasha right now. Besides, he's got Icari to take care of him right now, he doesn't really need us."

 "Yes, but why did we tell Inuyasha not to interfere? You know what will happen if Inuyasha doesn't tell Kagome soon…. Kikyo will take him down to hell with that sword she carries, an all powerful sword, might I add." They both sat, thoughtful for a moment, before Sango finally replied.

 "She needs time to think, and when she's ready, she'll make the right choice. No matter what, he still…" Miroku interrupted her.

 "He'll still love her."

*~*~*~*~*

 "Okay guys, let's go!" Kagome put on a fake cheery smile as she got ready. There was no point of bringing their moods downs because of her bad one. And she had to pretend, at least, that she didn't miss a certain hanyou…

 'No matter what, I will not miss Inuyasha one bit… or at least make it seem like I don't care… but somehow… I'll always care…' she pushed her friends onward and out of the small grove of trees and onset.

 "Kagome… where are we going exactly?" Shippo pounced onto her shoulder to ask her that. "It's not like we need to do anything now that Inuyasha isn't here." At the mention of his name, tears, guilt and some other emotions floated to the surface, but she knew Shippo would be able to tell no matter what.

 'It's no use, I'm lost, useless, and hopeless without him.'

 "I don't know Shippo. Maybe we could travel around and help out villages when they need it, no?" She looked back at the other two that were looking a bit confused themselves. "And maybe we'll be lucky enough to gather some jewel shards on the way." They didn't look convinced, and Kagome knew they wanted to say something to her.

 "Sango, Miroku, is there something you need to say?" To her surprise, it had been Shippo who had said that, not her. The two behind her were fidgeting slightly, though why she didn't know.

 "I… uh…" Miroku stammered, obviously tongue tied. Sango jabbed him in the chest. "I think we should go back to Inuyasha." He blurted out, basically summarizing what they had discussed earlier. "I mean, you know he didn't mean what he said, he was just angry and shocked at the fact that Sesshomaru would be pulling his sister way from him. That's all…"

 Both Sango and Miroku had expected something like her blowing up with anger in their faces, but that was not what they were going to get. Instead, Kagome cried, again, and they both felt the urge to reach out and hold her. The girl still needed the time to cope with this all, even if the rest of the gang secretly hoped that the two misguided lovers would figure this out, and everything was going to turn back to normal.

 "Kagome?" Sango whispered to her friend while soothing her back rubbing her back.

 "It's true…" the younger girl choked out so quietly, Sango had barely even heard it. "Without Inuyasha, we're lost, pathetic, and hopeless. He's all the power that we have, and he is what we need to stay alive and together… but…" She trailed off, looking slightly into the endless mounds of trees and vegetation. "He doesn't care, and I don't know how long I'll last being around him. I love him, and he doesn't see me any more that a shard detector."

 "That's not true." Miroku stood up in front of her suddenly. "I can detect the shards too, sort of… but he still chooses to keep you around. He can't fight without you, remember that day we found out about Naraku's origin? He was being hurt badly until you came back, and he beat the demon suddenly. Kagome… no matter what you think, Inuyasha cares deeply for you, and he's just a little shy."

 Kagome peered at him, unsure of what to make of this. "Are you sure?" Shippo, who seemed as if he had had enough of this, stomped on the ground and nipped her check lightly, though paining her enough to get her mind going straight.

 "Yes we're sure, we even heard Inuyasha say it! If you had been awake, you would've heard it too! He said he loved you, and begged Kikyo to let him live, and he admitted it in front of everyone! Even Sesshomaru and Jaken and Rin and Sang and Miroku… everyone!"

 Kagome touched her cheek gingerly where he had bit it. Was that really what had happened after Kikyo had gone after her? She looked at everyone else who nodded a bit slowly. She still couldn't believe her ears.

 "Then… then why didn't he tell me?"

 "Because, he's a bonehead." Shippo pointed it out as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. Kagome's heart lifted and she felt as if she could jump for joy, but, right then, memories of her words to him and his painful expression left her feeling empty again. What if he didn't want her back? She voiced this question out loud for the others to hear.

 "Don't be stupid Kagome, he's probably at the verge of killing himself for letting you slip through his fingers like that. Come on! Let's go find him before he does anything even more stupid!" Shippo bounded over to Kiara, who transformed quickly, letting everyone ride her.

 "Okay… Let's go back!" Sango and Miroku exclaimed, thanking the stars for letting Kagome see the truth, and praying that Inuyasha hadn't done anything resentful.

*~*~*~*~*

 "Come on… Inuyasha! She's your woman! Don't you want to find her?" Icari's claws flexed dangerously as Rin watched, bemused, nearby. She would actually be laughing right now if she didn't know about the current situation. Her lord, though, seemed to be thoroughly enjoying himself with this display, not at all affected by his brother's despair.

 "She's doesn't want me… why should I not just lay here and die?" he gestured to the branch he was sprawled over before letting himself hang uselessly from it again. "I wish I had a vine to hang myself with…" he eyed the area around him, as if really searching for the vine.

 "What do I look like? A witch? Get off you lazy ass and help me find your woman! Gods! If you don't I'll gladly let Kikyo take you away." She huffed and turned away, her green cape swaying in the winds as she did so. A light, masked, scent of the future world coming off her clothes made Inuyasha think of Kagome, and his heart lurched painfully. She still didn't want him…

 "You know…" she kept her head turned as she spoke, "I really wanted this sister… she would've been a nice addition to the family. Kagome, " He flinched as an image of her smiling face came back to him. "would've been a great mother too…" Her eyes glazed over.

 "Thinking about your may-be-mate?" Inuyasha stated bluntly, trying to get her to become as miserable as he was.

 "Would've been my mate, but…" She suddenly twitched, as if snapped back to reality, and turned to Inuyasha with a full glare. "Inuyasha, come with me right now! I swear! There are more ways to do things than screwing up, don't laugh Sesshomaru cause you ain't exactly pro either, and I'm going to show you!" She pulled Inuyasha off the branch by his collar and all but dragged him into the forest.

 "Oi! Sesshomaru! I won't be back until I get this finished." She called over her shoulder, and looked at Inuyasha's still slumped body hanging off of her hand. "Don't hold your breath!"

As the two siblings walked into the forest, Rin turned to Sesshomaru.

 "What did she mean by, 'you ain't exactly pro either?'" The inu youkai gagged, not really sure of what to say now. His composure was slowly giving away, and he found he wouldn't be able to act any more.