A/N: Thanks to all you who posted reviews on the first chapter! Here is number two! I hope y'all like it just as much! Please let me know what you think!
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Missing in Action: Chapter Two"I don't think Kikyou would do something as vile as this..." Kaede shook her head. "It's just not in her nature..."
"She tries to kill Inuyasha every time we run into her. I think that qualifies, doesn't it?" asked Sango.
Kaede frowned. "That is different."
Inuyasha's jaw nearly hit the ground. "How is that any different?" he demanded.
"Because, my dear Inuyasha, Kikyou and Kagome are connected to one another. You know this. All of you know this. The pieces just don't fit..."
"We can't just hand those shards over to Naraku, though...can you even imagine how awful that would be?" Shippo sighed.
Miroku shuddered. "We have to take Naraku out. We can't risk him getting all the jewel shards. He'd win. We can't let him win. He has hurt too many people," Miroku glanced lovingly at Sango. "We knew we'd have to fight eventually..."
"And your brilliant plan is what?" Inuyasha challenged him. "We don't know how Kikyou is involved, we have no clue where they've got Kagome at, and did you happen to miss the big important part? He's going to kill her!"
Sango took a deep breath. "Calm down, Inuyasha." She smiled. "We'll think of something...but you're going to have to help us. You know Kikyou better than almost everyone here...why would she get herself involved with Naraku? Think, Inuyasha..."
"She wouldn't, " answered Kaede, "not by choice. It was her job to protect the jewel. She wouldn't team up with someone like Naraku if she could help it. People like Naraku are the kind of people that Kikyou was trying to protect the jewel from."
Sango gasped as something suddenly came to her. "My brother!" she yelped. "What if Naraku has done to Kikyou what he did to my brother?"
Inuyasha turned. "Then we'd be in serious trouble." He whispered. "But the truth is...we don't have much time to worry about consequences."
"Is this going to be painful?" asked Shippo from the corner.
Inuyasha frowned. "I'm not sure yet...but I know a way to get Kikyou off your backs. I'll just have her do a little something for me first..."
"Our backs? What does that mean, Inuyasha?" Miroku followed him from Kaede's home. "What do you mean? You aren't going to do anything crazy, are you? You wouldn't do anything to get yourself hurt, would you? Inuyasha! Are you listening to me?" Miroku was turning red with anger.
Inuyasha turned towards him, shaking his head. "Nothing like that. I'm just going to give her what she wants. You guys can get Kagome back and beat the tar out of Naraku."
"There you go again, Inuyasha! What do you mean? You're talking crazy!"
"Miroku," the hand on his shoulder was Sango's. "Back off. You're about to get in the middle of a lover's quarrel..."
"You're doing it now, too!" groaned Miroku in confusion. "What is everybody talking about? Can someone clue me in, please?"
Later that afternoon, Inuyasha sat in the forest thinking to himself. This is not how everything was supposed to go. I have to find Kikyou. Maybe there's still something of her left that will understand what I am about to do. And then again, that still leaves the others...how are they to fight Naraku on their own? Unless...
Inuyasha stood. "Sesshoumaru!" he screamed at the top of his lungs. "Where are you, brother? I...I need your help!" he screamed in defeat. It was hard to admit, but if Naraku was to be defeated, his friends were going to need some back up. He would give Sesshoumaru his sword. He would have no need for it...and Sesshoumaru would help them defeat Naraku. It was the best...the only plan he had.
"You don't have to scream," Sesshoumaru smirked, emerging from behind a group of trees. "I can hear pretty well, you know."
"Sesshoumaru, I don't want to..." Inuyasha began.
He shook his head. "I have no intention of fighting you, little brother. But I am wondering what's going on inside that little head of yours..."
"Kagome's been kidnapped by Kikyou..." Inuyasha sighed. Having to tell his brother about everything was definitely going to be a slap in the face.
"Kagome? You mean that annoying girl...the one who's supposed to be the reincarnation of Kikyou?" Sesshoumaru waited, and Inuyasha nodded slowly. "Well," he laughed, "isn't that just backwards!"
"Stop it, Sesshoumaru! I mean it! Naraku is controlling Kikyou! We have until tomorrow morning to give him the jewel shards, or he's threatened to kill her!"
"Naraku doesn't 'threaten' to do anything, little brother..." Sesshoumaru frowned. "So why, of all people, do you want my help?"
Inuyasha took a deep breath. "I need to find Kikyou. I have an idea that might get Kagome back safely, but it would involve my having to...err...leave. I need you to find Kikyou. If she agrees, I will give you my sword before I go...and I want you to help them defeat Naraku." Inuyasha studied his brother's face for signs of acceptance.
"What exactly are you talking about? What do you mean when you say you'd have to leave?"
"It's a long story! Are you going to do what I've asked or not...because if not I need to go! There isn't that much time left!"
Sesshoumaru shrugged. "Breathe...I will help you just this once. But don't think that when this is all over you will get any leniency. This is a one time deal..." Sesshoumaru looked very displeased at the idea of having to help his little brother.
"Where I'm going, I won't need any more of your help..." Inuyasha growled under his breath, and turned to return to the village.
Sango, Miroku and Shippo were again gathered in Kaede's hut.
Miroku stood almost immediately when Inuyasha entered. "You wouldn't...would you? You never mentioned anything about any 'trades' before, Inuyasha. We're all supposed to fight Naraku together. That was supposed to include you!"
"Kagome isn't from this time, Miroku. She's not from here, and if I can help it, she isn't going to die here either. Do you have a problem with that?" Inuyasha snapped.
Miroku nodded, standing his ground. "As a matter of fact, I do!" he snarled. "Have you even thought about what could happen? Who's to say she won't die here anyway, battling Naraku? Who's to say that, huh? And it won't be like you'll be there to protect her...so how can you sit there and guarantee anything about her safety?"
Sango nodded. "He has a point, Inuyasha. You may be doing what you think could help her, but your plan has a huge gaping hole in it. There's a big chance that everything you do could be in vain. Didn't you think of that?"
Inuyasha frowned. Nope...hadn't considered that. And I asked Sesshoumaru for help. Sango and Miroku are right, though...there's far too much risk involved. I wasn't thinking clearly. But still...how to get Kagome out of there without getting us all killed...
"Inuyasha, that's simple. Give him what he wants..." Kaede whispered from a corner of her house.
Inuyasha fell over as he usually did when Kagome sat him. "Have you lost your mind, old woman?"
"Not the real jewel shards, you idiot boy!" she snapped. "Naraku may think he is smart...but he is blinded by greed. If he thinks he has the jewel shards, you may be able to get Kagome back..."
"And just how do you plan on giving him the jewel shards without giving them to him? Is that what you want to do...because that would be really tricky...he'd have to actually think they worked..."
"You underestimate me, Inuyasha..." Kaede smiled. "Sit. This will only take a minute. Hand me one of the shards. I'm going to replicate it."
"Replicate?" whispered Shippo. "Won't he be able to tell they are fakes?"
"Not when I'm through with them," Kaede smirked. "When your brother gets here with Kikyou, tell her you have the jewel shards...but do not give these to her until she has brought Kagome back to you." Kaede instructed. "Kikyou will be able to tell they are fake...but I doubt she is completely gone...I doubt she actually wants Naraku to have his hands on the real shards..."
"You think Kikyou will be able to think enough to give Naraku the fake ones? What if she just tries to kill us? That has happened before, you know...so it wouldn't be too much of a surprise..."
"I doubt it..." Kaede shook her head. "Despite everything, I have a little bit more faith in my sister than you do..."
"Can we trust you to do this, Kaede?" Inuyasha whispered.
Kaede shrugged. "I'll be done in just a second..." she nodded.
Kaede's quick work proved to be a good thing. Sesshoumaru and Kikyou appeared not ten minutes later. Kaede walked outside with Inuyasha and the others to greet them.
"You have something I want?" Kikyou smirked.
Inuyasha nodded. "Yes, actually. Naraku wanted the jewel shards? You bring her back here to me, and they are his..."
"You are tricking me!" she accused.
"I am not, Kikyou! I have the jewel shards, but you must return Kagome before I hand over anything! My patience is waning! Bring her back, or I swear, I'll scatter them across the globe!"
Kikyou had a look of shock on her face. Inuyasha could tell just by looking at her that part of her was still in control. Naraku had not won yet.
"You'd...you'd do that...for her?" Kikyou stammered. "Why?"
"Because, Kikyou..." Inuyasha whispered. Damn! Why'd she have to make it so complicated? He didn't know why...because he didn't want her to die...because she didn't deserve it...because he loved her...there were too many reasons. Why did she need to know?
"I understand, Inuyasha." Kikyou sighed quietly. "I will return soon..."
Sesshoumaru glared at his little brother. "Doesn't seem to me like you plan on going anywhere." He smirked.
"Not today, Sesshoumaru." Inuyasha shook his head. "I'll let you know..." he smiled.
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A/N: Okay...so I am a sucker for the cliffhanger thing...sorry about this. I hope you liked it though! I bet y'all thought I was going to actually send Inuyasha into oblivion? Nah! There can be no final fight without him, of course...That kind of leaves Sesshoumaru in the dust for now (Sorry Yuffie!)...But don't worry about him! He'll come back around later! As for the next chapter...I don't know yet. Please review and let me know what you think!