Hello everyone! Here's the update I promised before Christmas! I warn you now, in the next couple chappies will be some plot twists. Plus, at the very end of the story (not this chapter), the biggest twist of all will blow you away! Hehe! I'm so evil! Anyways, here's my holiday present to all of you! Enjoy!
This chappie is dedicated to my first reveiwer and friend, Suaru! You rock buddy!
16 - The Plan
"Who are you?" Inuyasha blurted to the strange woman standing in the doorway to Miroku and Sango's room.
"Inuyasha!" Kagome said as she smacked him in the head with a small pillow. "That's rude!"
"Sorry about the mess Kaede," Sango said as she got up and dusted off her pajamas.
"Ah, it's okay. Ye seemed to have fun," Kaede replied with a sparkle in her eye.
"Who is that?" Inuyasha asked again.
"I said stop it!" Another pillow whacked him in the head.
"Wench..."
"I am Kanna, Kagura's sister," the white haired woman said quietly. Her cole black eyes looked over the teens scattered along the room. She had seen pictures of Inuyasha, Sango and Miroku from her sister. The other raven haired girl must be Kagome. She had heard that Inuyasha was quite taken with the young woman. 'They will be safe...' she thought, hoping against all hope that this plan would work. "I'm going to help you get to freedom."
"Can you really do that?" Kagome said with a small voice.
"Yes."
"... How?" Inuyasha asked, trying to asses wether he could trust this woman. His nose confirmed that she was related to Kagura, yet that didn't mean she was loyal...
"We'll discuss it over breakfast," Kaede interjected.
"So, what's this plan you have?" Inuyasha said through a mouthful of Cocoa Puffs.
"Do you have any manners at all today?!?" Kagome said as she glared at him.
He choked down his cereal, but still stared at the woman with the sad emotionless eyes.
She shifted her eyes carefully, scanning the room for anything suspicious. Finding nothing, she returned her gaze to match the hanyou's amber eyes. This unnerved him to no end. "You're all going to America."
They entire table just stared at her, jaws hitting the table. Kagome first broke the silence. "America?"
Kanna just nodded.
"But how?" Sango asked the question on everyone's mind.
"You'll know in time. Not now, though." No one liked this response, but they kept quiet. "First I must give you one last gift from Sesshomaru and Kagura." As she said the names of the dead couple, her voice slightly faltered; true, she was fairly quiet, but they could all tell she was saddened by their passing as well. "Here." She held her hand out. Resting in her palm was the most beautiful jewel any of them had ever seen. It was lilac in color, and sparkled brightly, practically glowing in the dimly-lit room.
Kagome's gaze was transfixed on the stone, as if it was the only thing in the world. It was the most astounding thing her eyes ever beheld, but there was something else as well. Something she couldn't quite put her finger on. It was as if she was drawn to it, like a moth to a flame.
"What is it?" Miroku finally said, breaking the silence that had taken over the room.
"I believe I can tell ye about it," Kaede said. "This stone is know as the Shikon no Tama. It holds within it magical properties, so the legend says. The holder of this jewel is said to be protected from all harm by a mystical force. And the jewel itself is absolutely amazing, and very rare. One of a kind, as a matter of fact."
"So you're saying that if we posses this jewel, then we're safe?" Inuyasha inquired, looking to Kaede with hopeful eyes.
"If the tales are true, then yes."
Inuyasha looked to Kagome to gage her reaction to this news. But all he found was her staring at the jewel still sitting lightly in the palm of Kanna's hand, eyes glazed over, as if in a trance. "Kagome?" he said as he waved a clawed hand infront of her face. Receiving no reaction, he flicked her nose gently, bringing her back to reality.
"Hmm? What?" she quetioned as she blinked for the first time in three minutes.
"Did you hear a thing that Kaede just said?"
"She was talking?" was Kagome's only response as she went back to starring at the lilac stone. Now everyone was confused at the young woman's fixation. Except for Kanna.
"Here," she said, offering the Shikon no Tama to Kagome. The girl held out her hand, catching it as Kanna let it slip from her fingers.
As soon as it hit her hand, her breath caught in her chest. The jewel sent a strange shock wave through her, as if it's power flooded into her through her hands.
Everyone saw her visible jolt when she caught the jewel, and Inuyasha immediately grabbed her shoulders. "Kagome!"
"I'm fine, Inu..." she replied in a slow, calm tone. "Just kinda... overwhelmed."
"Like I thought," Kanna said.
"What are you talking about?" Inuyasha practically snarled, feeling as though something strange had happened to his future mate.
"Well, I thought she might have an affinity with the jewel by the way she looked at it."
Inuyasha just gave her a blank start, showing his confusion clearly.
Kanna sighed, and continued. "When you have an affinity with something, you have a strong connection with it. I sensed that one of you would be connected with the jewel, and apparently Kagura did, too. Otherwise she wouldn't have given it to me to give to you."
They were silent after this, thinking about what Kanna just said. A jewel that could protect them... that would definently be handy. But the main thing that was echoing in everyone's mind was how were they getting out of Japan and to America?
"That's all for now," Kanna said as she stood. She wasn't a tall woman, being slightly shorter than Kagome. Yet she held such a knowing expression that it didn't matter. "I shall be back tomorrow at this time. Please be ready to go. Pack lightly; only things that are compleatly nessecary. Farewell," she said as she walked silently to the door.
Kagome shook her head lightly, clearing it. "Wait! What about this?" she said as she pointed to the Shikon no Tama still in her hand.
Kanna turned to look at Kagome with her dark cold eyes. "Keep it. It was intended for you anyway." With that she exited the house and hopped into her little car and drove into the sunrise.
Sango sat down on her bed, pen in hand. She pulled the notebook out from upnder the matress, and opening it to a new page. In habit she dated it at the top, and sat the pen point to the page. Lately she found that writing gave her a nice release from the stress of everyday life.
Today I feel like writing about my friends instead of whats happening. It's all just a little too much. Anyway, first I'll talk about my cousin, Inuyasha. He's a half-demon, which repeled many people from him when we were young. Inuyasha was consistantly teased, which I think is what lead to his hardened heart in his early teenage years. He and I basically stood alone in the world, along with Miroku, but more on him later. That is until Kagome came along. After I saw the look he gave her that first day, I knew he would be okay. I didn't think he'd ever get over that Kikyo... but I'm so glad he did. Kagome is so much better for him and he would do anything for her.
Which brings me to Kagome. We only met Kagome a little over a month ago, yet none of us could imagine life without her. She is my best friend, and I know I can tell her anything. At times she can be ditzy, but overall she's so nice. I can trust her with anything. She was also forst to tame the heart of Inuyasha, and she handles him quite well. Besides Kikyo, she was the first one to look past the gruff exterior to the sweet, ill-tempered guy at heart. I don't know how our lives would be different of she wasn't here, but I know that she's done wonders for our sanity.
Then there's Miroku... There's not much to say there. He's a pervert who loves to grope me, yet he's the one with a hold on my heart. I'm not afraid to admit it. I love him. I plan on marrying him someday. And if it were up to him, we'd have more kids than you could count on your fingers and toes... What a lecher! But, he's my lecher! And I'll keep him by my side (and far away from my butt) for as long as I can.
"America..." Inuyasha muttered to himself as he sat on the windowsill and stared out into the scenery. Kagome was bustleing around behind him, trying to think of anything they would possibly need to take with them when they left. She had all their clothes washed and stuffed into one book bag, trying to figure out what else they needed. As if mentally coming to a conclusion, she sat on the bed and layed her head on the pillow, eyes closing immediately. His sensitive ears twitched as he heard her breath slow and hit an even pace; she was asleep. Then he realized it, too. They had nothing except for the clothes on their backs. His amber eyes gazed at Kagome as she turned in her sleep to face him. A small smirk appeared across his face. 'The necklace and the ring... After all that, she still has them.'
Aroung the sleeping girl's neck rested the jade necklace he had given her for her birthday so long ago, plus the Shikon no Tama. And the ring... there it rested on her left hand ring finger, the emeralds glistening in the light from the window. He had heard her talking with Sango once after Christmas. As he recalled the conversation that he had eaves droped on, he grinned.
- flash back
"Oh Sango! We have the best guys ever!" Kagome said excitedly as she hopped up and down on her bed. Unknown to her, Inuyasha sat outside her house in the God tree, easily hearing everything the two girls said.
"I know! Look at this! Isn't it just beautiful?!?" He looked over to see the rosy colored pendant that Miroku had given Sango. Plus the engraving, it had cost him quite a bit, but he said that it was worth every penny.
"Yeah! But look at my ring!" Inuyasha smiled as he saw her hold the ring up to the light. Suddenly she frowned and took the ring off her pointer finger.
'What in the hell is she doing?' he thought, worried she might have reconsidered her statements from Christmas Eve.
"Kagome, what are you doing?" Sango asked, as if reading his mind.
"Well, I thought that since Inuyasha basically proposed to me..." At that he blushed, knowing that she was right. "I thought I would let everyone else know, too!" She then slid the ring on her left hand ring finger. The finger her wedding ring went on. A blush crossed her face as she and Sango began chatting away in their girl talk once again.
But Inuyasha didn't hear anymore of it. 'She's not ashamed to be with me. She actually proud of it...' This thought comforted him greatly, knowing that the girl of his dreams would be his forever.
- end flash back
He stood from his position on the windowsill and went to the bed. The curtains ruffles with the breeze that flew gracefully through the window, passing over Kagome's napping body, causing her to shiver. Seeing this, Inuyasha pulled a sheet over her small body and gave her a soft kiss on the cheek and exited the room, leaving her to her rest.
Kagome awoke to the sound of a large thump from downstairs. 'Miroku...' she thought, 'Can't keep his hands to himself for a minute...' She grumbled incoherently as she stood, streching her arms above her head and rolling her shoulders, cracking her back in the process. Slowly, she glided over to the window, finding a beautiful veiw of a pink and orange sunset. A smile crossed her face at the pretty picture infront of her; it wouldn't be out of place on a postcard.
She made her way downstairs, only to fing Miroku laying unconcious at the foot of the stairs. Stepping on his back, she made her way to the kitchen, her grumbling stomach persuading her to go faster. When she got there, she found Inuyasha and Sango standing aroung the stove, arguing over something. "Hey guys. What's going on?"
Both turned to see a groggy Kagome, rubbing her eyes. "Kagome! Maybe you can help us!" Sanog said as she pulled her over to the stove. "Inuyasha wants to put candy corn in the hamburgers." Seeing the look on Kagome's face, she grinned and continued. "So I told him that it was gross, and that he should put gummie bears in instead."
"Oh come on! Gummie bears? That's disgusting!" Inuyasha said in his defense. They continued like this, Kagome just standing there, watching them.
"Hey, how about not putting anything in and just eating the hamburgers like they are?" she offered.
They just gave her an odd glare and continued, as if the idea of plain food was as strange as going out in a snow storm naked.
She just sighed and went to the living room, realizing that she wasn't getting any sort of edible food soon. Her chocolate brown eyes spotted Miroku on the couch, still looking a little dazed. "Hey. You okay?" she questioned as she sunk down on the couch next to him.
"Yeah... Still kinda dizzy..." he said as he swerved his head to look at her. They both flinched as they heard a fight break out in the kitchen. "What are they doing?"
"Fighting over what to put in the burgers: candy corn or gummie bears," she groaned, realizing how foolish she sounded.
"That's compleately absurd," he replied. Kagome cracked a smile, happy someone finally agreed with her. "They should put those lifesavers in!" he said as he hopped up and joined into the continuing fight in the kitchen.
Kagome fell on the ground in shock, not believing her ears. 'Am I doomed to live the rest of my life eating weird food?' She groaned, her stomach tied in knots. 'All good things have their downsides, I guess.'
The sliver moon was high in the sky and casting it's erie glow before the teens climbed into bed. Actually, Inuyasha had to drag the unconcious Miroku to he and Sango's bed after one too many gropes. But it's the same concept.
Inuyasha and Kagome layed easily, Kagome's back against Inuyasha's chest as he buried his nose in her soft raven hair. "Are you scared, Inu?" she whispered softly as his grip around her waist tightened.
He was quiet for a moment. "Inu?" she whispered again, wondering if he fell asleep.
"Feh. Me, nervous? You must be kidding me," he said quietly into her ear.
She giggled at the soft breath flowing across her ear. The sound made Inuyasha's heart flutter, sending it to his throat. He couldn't talk just then even if he wanted to.
"You can't fool me," she replied.
After taking a deep breath and regaining his composure, he responded. "Never could."
She smiled and turned to face him. Her soft brown eyes met his sharp amber ones. They stayed like that for the longest time, jut looking into eachother's eyes. "Are you?" Inuyasha asked after a moment.
"What?"
"Scared."
She closed her eyes to prevent the tears from falling that she had held back all day after hearing the news. But she couldn't fool him either. His demon senses sould tell she was crying before she could hide it. His strong arms wrapped her in a bear hug, kissing her cheek gently.
"I'll never let anything happen to you, Gome," he whispered as he nuzzled the base of her neck affectionately.
"I know, but... America..." Even though her voice was muffled from the comforter that sheilded them from the light breeze flowing through the open window, he could hear her struggle through the worlds, as if they hurt her when she said them.
"Shhh. Just get some sleep, Gome. I have a feeling tomorrow will be a long day." With that both of the teens fell into an uneasy sleep, feeling the pressures of the following day even in their dreams.
Kanna pulled up in the driveway in her little car and got out, approaching the door quickly and silently. Her small hands tapped on the door, furiously, afraid of being seen. Kaede cracked the door open and let her in after seeing who it was.
The group was sitting at the kitchen table, in the midst of an intense Cheerio battle, flicking them with ease across the polished wood of the table. They came to a conclusion after the pillow fight that various activities, like pillow fighs and Cheerio battles, really helped to relieve stress. Sango and Kagome were flicking the little round cereal pieces left and right, smacking Inuyasha and Miroku in the face multiple times. Neither one of them had good aim, making it a very one sided battle.
"Ye are more immature than young children," Kaede said exasperatedly as they stepped into the door.
"Huh?" Inuyasha said, turning his head to face then. Unfortunately, at that very moment Kagome flick another Cheerio, hitting him in those adorable silver dog ears. A strange expression lit up his face as he felt the foregin object slide into his ear. Suddenly, his ears started flicking back and forth at a rapid pace, quickly dislodging the small circle piece of cereal.
"Um... Sorry?" Kagome said carefully as he gave her a hard glare. She blew him a kiss, causing him to blush lightly. Her giggle made him grin back, forgetting his anger.
Suddenly Inuyasha's ears flattened to his head, his eyes quickly darting over to Kanna standing in the doorway. Then Kagome felt it, too; something wasn't right. She looked over to Kanna, the gold in her eyes becoming slightly more evident. Kanna just stared back blankly, her cole eyes giving nothing away.
After a struggled moment of silence, Kanna began to speak. "Are you all ready?" Her quiet voice sounded fine, yet something was off...
"Yeah. I'll get out stuff," Kagome siad as she got up. Inuyasha stood after her, following her up the stairs.
Once they were there, Inuyasha closed the door. "You felt it too, right?"
"Yeah..." she replied. "But I'm not sure what it is."
"Me neither. Something just feels... wrong." He scooped up the backpack containing all their clothes, and they exited the door.
"Let's not mention it, okay?" Kagome said as they walked slowly down the stairs.
He nodded his agreement and walked into the living room, finding everyone waiting.
"I'm driving you to a small airport in the country about 200 miles from here. Then you will board a small air plane and fly to China. There you will connect with another flight, which will take you to New York." Her words were rushed, as if they were struggling to come out. They all nodded and turned to Kaede. They knew that they would never see the elderly woman again.
"Don't ye fret over me, children. Just keep safe and live." Kagome and Sango wrapped her in a large hug, and Inuyasha and Kiroku bowed to show their gratitude and respect.
A few tears were shed, many thanks and promises were made. Then it was time to go. They exited the house, walking slowly to Kanna's car. Her car looked quite small, with the back windows tinted darkly. "I need you all to squeeze into the back, and try to reduce any movement to a minimum."
They did as she said, and before they knew it, they were off.
After 200 miles of high way, they came to a stop. This jolted them all awake from their naps, the two hour drive making them grogy. Kanna quickly exited the car without a sound, slamming the door behind her. Inuyasha looked to Kagome, who was rubbing her eyes free of sleep.
He opened his door, attempting to see where they were. What he found outside of the car made his heart rate double.
"Long time, no see, Inuyasha."
To my Friends and Reveiwers --
Suaru - Yep! Good job! You guessed correctly! Now tell me who the new person at the end of the chappie is! Hehe! Lone and hugs to you girl!
inuGome4ever - Hey, I can't come out with long one's all the time! It takes the time, plus just getting the ideas out is a long process, so please, bear with me!
JadeElemental - Yes, the pillow all was fun, no? Hehe... but sadly, nothing went on! Get your mind out of the gutter, girlfriend! And Miroku admiring the carpet... that came from a saying that I heard a long time ago, that I absolutely love! Hehe! Thanks! It feels great knowing that people actually like what I do! It's really encouraging. When I get some free time, I'll read that fic you told me about! I bow to you and your awesomely long reveiws! Yay! TTYL hunny!
Lost-in-Dark - I felt like adding Kagura's note in the beginning would give it some sort of closure, but maybe there won't really be closure... (grins evily) You'll understand as the chapters progress! Anyway, hope you like this chappie!
Causing Trouble - Hehe! Poor perverted Miroku! Yet, he deserves it every time... (sighs) Thanks! I was getting depressed writing it, so I lightened the mood! Glad you liked it!
Wes - CHILL OUT CHICK!!!!!! Hehe!
Tweak The Ears - First off, I love your name! Second, I know Inuyasha's slightly OCC, and normally I'd be mad at myself for making him that way, but I'm happy with how this is going! Thanks for telling me! I appreciate it!
ME! - Thanks! Yes, it probably will come up again, considering whats going to happen later on in the story... but I can't tell you that, now can I? Again, Thanks!
Inugirl540 - Wow! I'm one of your fav authors?!? Thanks! I still get really happy when people tell me that! (smiles broadly) Thank you so much! And I liked them in this story too... a lot... maybe... but I won't go into much detail... I'm so evil!
PrincessKagomekk - Thanks so much!
searchingstar - I think that was my favorite chapter in this story! I loved it so much! I sometimes cry when I go back and read it myself! Thanks! It would be cool to publish a book... do you really think I'm good enough to do that? But thanks again for the reveiw!
Inuyasha-454 - Yes, Sango loves card game, or any game that she can stomp people at! She's kinda like me in that matter... I love cards! It's the only game I'm actually good at! Thank you!
esta - Thats a good idea, but I already have someone else in mind for the leader of the Syndicate. But thanks so much for the input! I love when people try to help me! Even if I can't use their idea, I can usually get an idea from it! And I got an idea based off this... so thanks again!
draginspirit888 - Thanks so much! Maybe I'll TTYL!
Okay, that's the end of another chapter! This is where the story gets pretty angsty, so watch out! There will probably more suspensful cliffies... Don't say I didn't warn you! Thank you all so much for your thoughts and reveiw, and I wish you all the happiest of holidays from the bottom of my heart! Please, give me a little Christmas present and Reveiw! Adios, my bien amigos and amigas!
Ash