Disclaimer: R-U-M-I-K-O! T-A-K-A-H-A-S-H-I! Now! What does that spell? RUMIKO TAKAHASHI!!!!!! And she owns the show Inuyasha.Not me.Arigatou.

Love Me as I Am

Chapter 56- Naraku's Insidious Plan

"Kagome, did you see that?"

"How could I not? I'm nearly blinded now." Said Kagome, unshielding her eyes.

"What do you think it was?"

"Um.Naraku?"

"Good guess."

"Dad!"

"Geez. You guys are gonna wear me out. What is it this time?"

"It's Trinity.she's gone. She was right behind me and when I turned around she was--"

"HOW many times do we have to loose people? Well, she couldn't have gone far right?"

Kanaye looked worried, like he had lost a puppy or something only instead, he ha lost his wife.

"Well this sucks. We came this far into the forest to find Naraku and--"

"Sango!"

"What the--"

"Suki!"

"Huh? No.Kagome!"

"They disappeared."

"Damn you Naraku. I'll kill you!"

"But Sango.she's--"

Miroku couldn't seem to finish his sentence as he sunk down to the ground on his knees.

"What if.something happens to.I--"

This time he was cut off by the sharp impact of Inuyasha's fist against his head. He looked up to see a peeved Inuyasha standing above him.

"Shut up stupid. We'll find 'um. Now quit your bellyaching, stand up, and be productive. Let's go."

A murderous flame billowed in his pupils and Miroku suddenly found himself trusting Inuyasha more than ever. After all, Kagome had disappeared too so they were in the same boat. Inuyasha turned to follow the trail again and nearly collided with a tree. Except it wasn't a tree at all, but Sesshomaru.

"What do you want?" Inuyasha muttered, suddenly finding the ground VERY interesting.

Sesshomaru bent down to meet his younger half-brother's gaze.

"To defeat Naraku."

"WHAT?!"

"You heard me."

"No way Sesshomaru. This is MY battle!"

"I really don't think so."

"Butt out!"

"What if I told you I can tell you where Naraku is."

"Then I'd say you're lying." Inuyasha snorted.

"Oh really."

"Yeah."

"Well then, in that case, I know where Naraku is."

"You're lying."

"Am I?"

Inuyasha glared long and hard at Sesshomaru. He didn't trust him, only, Sesshomaru never lied, or at least, Inuyasha didn't ever remember him lying.

"Fine. But you're doing me a favor, that's IT."

"Whatever you say little brother."

"And do you MIND not calling me little brother?!"

Sesshomaru didn't even respond to his comment as he led them ahead. He took a detour from the trail until they came into a grassy clearing surrounded by towering trees just like the rest of the forest.

"They're near here." Sesshomaru warned, an eerie voice in place.

"M-Miroku!!!!"

"Sango? Where are you?!"

Miroku didn't get a response as fear suddenly flooded over him again and he felt as if he would drown. His beloved Sango was in trouble.and he couldn't even see her.

~*~*~

Sango tried to struggle against the man that held her captive. A sharpened knife was held at her throat so she wasn't free to move much.

"Once they get here.I shall kill each and every one of you in front of their eyes." Came Naraku's deep voice as he laughed mercilessly.

"Na.raku." choked Sango, trying to free herself.

"Quiet wench, or I will have to."

Sango shut her mouth immediately as he moved the knife so that it was floating above her stomach.

"That's. Just. Sick!" came Kagome's voice.

She had been tied to a nearby tree and was watching the struggle.

"Is this how you get your kicks? I don't see what Kikyo even saw you."

Naraku sent her a glare that could kill but she seemed unaffected.

"I bet she's watching you right now."

"Woman, if you desire to live you'll shut up."

Kagome knew she was getting under his skin. She knew it might cost her her life, but at the risk of saving Sango and her baby she really didn't care. Naraku's anger boiled over and he dropped Sango unceremoniously onto the ground.

"Don't talk about Kikyo." Naraku sneered.

"And why not? After all. I am he reincarnate."

"You're nothing like her."

"Oh really? Funny because I've been told other wise."

"Kikyo is different."

"How so?'

"WHY am I even discussing this with you?"

"So you do have feelings. You're not just a cold heartless jerk."

"Is that so? That description seemed more like a description of your mate than I."

"They're here." Suki whispered to Kagome from the other side of the tree.

While Naraku had been talking to Kagome. Sango had gathered her strength and run off to warn the others. By the time Naraku noticed, it was too late.

~*~*~

Something came out from a nearby branch and grabbed Miroku's leg, pulling him off of Kilala and onto the ground.

"What the.? Get off of--Sango?!"

Sango gasped and held onto him.

"He has.them.don't go.yet."

"What?"

Miroku took her into his arms to calm her down a bit. Inuyasha, Kanaye, Yasuo and Sesshomaru waited for her to say something. She took a deep breath.

"Naraku has them. He said the plan was to kill us in front of you."

Inuyasha growled and clenched his fist at his side.

'Kagome.'

He was about to run off when Sango grabbed his foot, causing him to fall face first into the dirt.

"You can't just go rushing in blindly like that Inuyasha. You have to have some sort of plan."

Inuyasha gathered his dignity and sat up, putting his hands in his lap and staring Sango straight in the eyes.

"So.whatda we do?"

He actually sounded somewhat calm and composed. Sango pulled his head closer to hers and did the same with Miroku, pulling them into a huddle as the other three men listened from above. It felt strange to be surrounded by five men as they hung onto her every last word but she had to admit she kinda liked it.

"Alright. Now you can't expect a big, long, elaborate, plan from a woman who feels like she could up and explode at any moment.but here's what I have."

~*~*~ Hope you guys are enjoying it. I know the Naraku/Kikyo thing is a little bit weird but I thought about it once and it seemed kinda cool/interesting. I mean, it's kinda logical if you think about it. Naraku loves Kikyo, Kikyo no longer has Inuyasha. I know some people are for the Inuyasha/Kikyo thing but the way I see it, Kikyo only loved Inuyasha for what he could have been. Kagome loves him for what he is. Kikyo wanted to change him while Kagome liked him as a hanyou. Since Kagome and Inuyasha are together Kikyo really needs someone and if you think about it, Naraku's always been there. Even though he killed her to get what he wanted he realized the jewel isn't really all he wanted. If you've gotten far enough into the series, the actual Naraku says himself that no matter how hard he tries, or how many times he cuts the spider scar off his back, Onigumo's heart still beats deep within him.

So anyway, I'm done with my spew, but I thought you guys would all like to know my view since I can't very well incorporate this whole thing into the story. ^_~ Okay, well enough about that. Enjoy and review onegai like you always do. I love you guys so much and you always brighten my day, especially when I get really sweet reviews. You guys have no idea how happy you make me. This is why I spend all my free time (which I have too much of) writing. Oh yeah, I just started drama so I won't have QUITE as much time to write. However, I didn't get the main part (which I'm actually glad now cause I'm way too busy with piano and stuff) so I don't have to stay till 6 EVERY night. But I do sometimes.

Oh yeah, you'll be happy to know that I have all of next week off because we have February recess (dunno exactly why that is but hey, I'm not complaining.) Sorry for you guys that don't if I make you feel jealous. But hey, that means I get lots of extra free time to write and that means lotsa updates for you! Well, if I'm not at drama rehearsal. *sigh* They're making us have rehearsal over vacation.how mean. Well.I guess I can see why though. We do only have 7 weeks to put this play together. We're doing Bye Bye Birdie. Oh yeah, if you've been in that play before or something, do you think you guys could drop me a line via email or IM? I'd really like to see how you guys did it and stuff. This will be my 4th musical and I haven't seen the movie yet. Well.eep. This was a really long A/N. Lol. Beats the record huh? Thanks for those of you that read it. I just kinda feel like I should get this stuff off my chest. Arigatou! ~*~*~ Miyu