Author's Note: Okay, I have good news and bad news: The good news is I managed to update this story in one week instead of two (thanks for the encouragement everyone!) – the bad news is that this chapter is just a bit shorter than usual, and it's probably my last update of either of my current fics for about two weeks. (please don't kill me, especially Alter Ego readers! I'll give extra attention to AE when I have time to write again, I promise)

    The reasons: The length is because it was really the only way to make the timing all work out the way I want it to without letting it drag and get really redundant (I hate that). The lack of updates is because the show I'm in, Harvey, is in production this week so I have dress rehearsals and shows every night, plus at the end of the run we have to strike the set (which means we literally stay up all night taking it apart piece by piece. There are only about 12 of us in the cast, plus a stage crew, and the set is gigantic – you do the math). Not only that but I'm taking my SATs on Saturday morning (right before the last show and the strike) and it's AP exam week next week, so study, study, study! In short, I'm very busy. Hopefully I won't just drop dead on Sunday because that makes it really hard to write…

    But once the show and tests are out of the way my life will return to normal…well until the next show I'm planning to be in starts up (in a few weeks), plus my summer job and the list of stuff I have to get done over the summer. But fanfiction is really high up on that list so update frequency should increase once school's out!

    Oh and just to note, I think this fic is approximately half way done, but I'm not sure. It all depends on how long each section turns out to be, and there's one section of my outline that I'm planning to expand on further than I at first thought, so who knows. Suffice it to say, it's not over yet.

InuGoddess: That's where it came from! I knew I'd gotten the line from somewhere but I couldn't place it! Yeah, I used to be obsessed with Back to the Future (I practically knew the second one by heart), so I guess it's one of those things that's sort of imbedded in my subconscious or something. Anyway, glad you liked the chapter and thanks so much for emailing me even though ff.net wouldn't let you review. I feel special! luv ya

Fallen-Snow: Happy Birthday! To answer your question (well, the one I can answer without giving anything away, of course!) yes Naraku and Onigumo are separate in this story. I don't usually do that, but it was sort of a spur-of-the-moment thing. Onigumo's character was simply referred to as "the man" until my very last draft, when I thought to slip in his name. Oh, and you've convinced me, I'll read Life Exchange. Oooh, did you hear Rozefire is planning to write a follow up to Dead Famous? It's on her bio as an upcoming fic. I'm so excited! It's my favorite story!

Crystal Music: Cool, I'm glad someone prefers this story to Alter Ego. I like AE a lot, of course, but it's more for fun. This plot is much more complex and I really enjoy writing it. And I love bad guys – there's a reason I always get cast as the villain in the shows I do! Anyway, looks like this story took priority after all!

tsuki miko: You and I are of one mind as far as Kikyo is concerned. I just love writing her evilly, you know? Glad to hear you're not bored (I'm so paranoid) and looks like I got my motivation cause here I am! Thanks!

Missing in Action

Chapter 9: Rain

It was fully dark by the time the pair reached home, but the stars were hidden behind a layer of clouds that had made its way in during the evening.

Kagome didn't bother to flip on the light as they entered the cafe, moving over in the direction of the stairs. They both had yet to speak since the incident in the woods; neither of them knew what to say or how to begin.

Just before she reached the stairs, Inuyasha's voice stopped her. "Wait." His grim tone so closely echoed her own feelings of dread that she began to realize he was thinking the same thing as she was -- though why, she could not say.

Kagome turned to face him, taking a few steps forward. She had hoped to postpone this conversation, but apparently he wished to get it over with sooner rather than later.

"I can't stay here, Kagome," he murmured, meeting her eyes, his voice low and soft. "There's something I haven't told you, and I should have, but I was afraid you'd make me leave. Now I realize you would have been right to do so, and you deserve to know the truth, for...well, for everything."

Her brow lowered slightly in confusion. What was he talking about?

He stepped closer, putting a hand gently on her shoulder and sliding it down her arm to her hand, which he simply held in his own. He looked down at her soft, white skin, her hand so small in his, and felt once again an overwhelming urge to protect her in any way he could. It served only to strengthen his resolve; the only way for him to protect her was to disappear.

Amber eyes met hazel and he opened his mouth to speak. "Please don't hate me for lying to you," he entreated softly. "I told you that I got injured in a crossfire -- that's not true. The truth is...I'm a pilot for the American Air Force. My plane was shot down near here when our convoy was ambushed and I needed to treat my injuries, so I broke in here and borrowed a few things."

Her eyes widened as he spoke, not in anger, but in surprised understanding. After all, what right had she to be angry with him? His secret paled in comparison to hers. But the implications of what he was telling her added a whole new dimension to the situation.

"Kagome, they're still looking for me," he continued tensely, conviction and unhappiness warring on his face, "and after what happened today I know I might not be able to keep you safe if they were to find me here. I won't have you hurt because of me. That's why...it's best if I just leave." He fell silent, trying to gauge her reaction, but all he could see was shock. "Kagome, please say something."

Her mind was a whirl, trying to recalculate everything to account for this small revelation. He was the pilot Kouga was searching for! If Kouga found him Inuyasha would almost certainly be killed, if not tortured just for good measure. And according to the wolf-demon himself, they believed he was in the woods, that he wouldn't have been fool enough to go into the village. If Inuyasha left now, he would be caught, perhaps even killed on sight. But if he stayed, Kagome would have little to no chance of restoring Kouga's favor, and that could result in the destruction of their entire operation, not to mention the loss of many other lives in the process.

What the hell could she say? She was in no position to explain the situation to Inuyasha, so that left her with a choice: his life, or their cause? Her heart ached at the prospect. One life or possible hundreds, even thousands, if you counted all the soldiers who might be lost in the lengthening of this wretched war?

Outside it had begun to rain, each tiny, insignificant drop of water making a tapping sound against the walls of the building, leaving thin trails of wetness on the windows as they rolled down the clear glass one by one.

She closed her eyes and lowered her head, a silent tear sliding down her cheek. Inuyasha could only watch her in concern and apprehension. Finally she spoke, and it took all her experience to keep her voice steady. "I don't hate you Inuyasha. I...I understand why you did what you did, and I understand why you have to leave." Her heart broke with the words, but she fought any further tears and forced herself to meet his eyes once again.

He looked back at her intensely. Slowly, without even thinking, he slid his arm around her waist and drew her closer. Her eyes drifted shut as she succumbed to him without resistance, letting him capture her lips in a gentle kiss. She wound her arms around his neck, unable to hold back the tears any longer as she pressed closer to him, deepening the embrace.

The rain came harder, what once had been a gentle pitter-pat growing into an insistent drumming as the drops grew bigger, falling closer together.

He could feel the wetness of her tears on his own cheeks, taste the salt of them on her lips even as he tasted her for the first and last time. They both knew that in a war-torn world people came and went like the seasons, and each, for his or her own reasons, knew they would never see the other again. This kiss, first and last, was filled with goodbye.

When finally their lips parted, Inuyasha looked into hazel eyes full of a pain that he didn't quite understand. He gently wiped away her tears with his thumb, kissed her lightly one last time, and turned to go.

She watched him cross the room slowly, grudgingly, and her heart screamed at her to stop him. She wanted so to stop him, make him stay where she knew it was safe -- or at least as safe as it could be -- but her head told her that was a selfish wish, and one she could not afford. Without a word he stepped out into the pouring rain, the door swinging shut behind him with a soft click, barely audible through the sound of the water that beat relentlessly against the walls and roof of the building. A flash was visible through the window, followed not long after by the ominous rumble of thunder in the distance.

"Goodbye..." she whispered. It was done. He was gone forever, and all that was left for her was to repair the damage his mere presence had wrought on her operation and forget about him. She'd done it once before, when Hojo died and she'd first joined the Resistance. That was when she had learned to close herself off -- a necessary skill, especially in her line of work. But somehow she suspected that this time would be very different.

The shrill ring of the telephone rent the air, stirring her from her thoughts and almost immediately giving her a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach. There was only one person in the world that that could be, and it was with deepest dread that she answered it, fighting to keep her voice light and pleasant despite the turmoil within.

"Hello? Kouga, sweetheart, what a nice surprise..."

* * *

The rain cascaded down upon Inuyasha, soaking him to the bone as he trudged through the streets of Asile, which looked almost like small rivers from all the water rushing down the gutters. He couldn't let himself look back; he knew that for once in his life he had made the right choice in leaving, and he refused to be the cause of any trouble that might befall her.

"Goodbye, Kagome..." he muttered, unwittingly answering her own whispered words from within the cafe.

He couldn't see more than a few feet in front of him, but by now he knew his way well enough. After all this was the same route he had taken to get into the town that first time, and it had been dark then as well. It felt strange to be leaving for good, knowing he would never lay eyes upon the village or it's inhabitants again. How could it have become so familiar in such a short time?

The pavement grew rougher, the occasional lights from the window of a house or shop growing fewer and farther between, and before long he found himself in the countryside, with only the rain and the darkness for company.

* * *

Kagome lay awake in the darkness, spooned against a sleeping Kouga, whose arm was draped around her bare waist, his calloused hand resting casually over her breast. He had asked her to stay the night this time, and she didn't dare refuse him, considering her already precarious position with him. She knew he suspected something, but she wasn't sure he knew what he suspected. It seemed to her that he was testing her loyalty to him, so she'd agreed to stay, trying her best to make it sound as if she didn't mind at all.

But she did mind; of course she minded. How could she not? For hours now she had lain here beside him, trying with all her might not to think of Inuyasha, and most of all, trying not to imagine that it was his body she was pressed up against. Such thoughts could only bring torment. She was afraid even to go to sleep, lest she should speak his name.

When had this even happened? When, between all the fights and close encounters, had she come to care about that man so goddamn much? Why now, when nothing could be done about it?

Outside the window the rain continued, but it seemed to be letting up a bit. The occasional rumble of thunder was low, like a mournful growl to Kagome's ears. Like Inuyasha's growl...

Behind her, Kouga stirred with a growl of his own, pulling at her to turn and face him. He kissed her sleepily, and Kagome knew what he wanted. Reluctantly she submitted, allowing him to continue in the direction he was headed.

But as Kouga proceeded to lay her again, there was another roll of thunder, so much like Inuyasha's protective, possessive growl that, if she hadn't known better, she almost could have sworn he was right there in the room.

Inuyasha...I'm so sorry...

* * *

She must have fallen asleep at some point, because she awoke the next morning to see that the rain had stopped, though the sky was still a light, but murky, grey. Her eyes opened slowly, adjusting to the light, and at first she was a bit confused as to where she was and why she was here of all places. But then the events of the previous night came back to her and she could feel her heart sink in her chest.

Turning her head slightly she realized she was alone; Kouga was nowhere in sight, though his side of the bed was rumpled in evidence of his having been there a short time before. Frowning in slight puzzlement, though she couldn't say she was disappointed in his absence, she wondered where he could have gone. A glance at the clock on the wall had her more fully alert however; it was past noon.

Oh my god, the Cafe!, she thought. Sango's not there and I'm the only one to run it! "Jesus we barely make a profit as it is," the woman whined moodily, slumping down under the covers. "Oh fuck it," she muttered, her voice grim and cynical "I deserve a day off, I suppose. My life is going to hell anyway." And so am I, most likely, she thought wryly, considering her relationship with Kouga. But how much worse could that be than this? This did not improve her mood in the least.

Speak of the devil... The door opened then to reveal Kouga smiling that would-be-charming-if-I-didn't-know-him smile of his that she had learned to see through like glass.

"Kagome, you're awake," he said, coming to sit beside her on the bed. She took a breath and relaxed her face into the calmly contented expression of a woman waking from a night of ecstasy, thinking all the while, Oh what a tangled web we weave...

"Good morning," she replied lazily, as he brushed a lock of hair back from her face, letting his hand linger over her cheek.

"Did you sleep well?" he asked, one eyebrow raised in an arrogant fashion.

She gave a little giggle and ran a flirtatious finger down his arm teasingly, answering in a suggestively coy tone, "Very well -- when I did sleep that is."

A low growl of satisfaction emanated from within his chest. He's so predictable, she thought in disgust.

"Once you're dressed you can come down and have some breakfast, though it's really more like lunch time, and then I want to show you something." This last bit brought a gleam to his eye, which piqued her curiosity. What could he want to show me? Some new piece of art, no doubt. Dear god, just please don't let it be a sexual innuendo.

She nodded and he bent to press a gentle kiss to her lips, though it lasted perhaps a bit longer than she would have preferred, before rising to leave. Once he was safely out the door she let out a weary sigh. So this is my life then. How much longer is this war going to last?

Of course there was no answer to be had to that question, not that she had expected one; gods don't frequently reveal such petty details, in the grand scheme of things that is, to ordinary people like her. Finally she managed to drag herself out of bed and get dressed, making herself look presentable, if not exactly ravishing. But Kouga wouldn't care as long as she looked 'satisfied'; his ego was the size of the Empire State Building, and ever craving more praise.

After running a brush through her hair and smoothing out her skirt, she exited the room in the direction of the stairs, to the dining room. Once there she discovered a lovely breakfast ready and waiting for her. If there was one thing Kouga did to her satisfaction it was the meals; his cooks were excellent indeed, and this was no exception.

Just as she was finishing the last of her eggs the wolf-youkai appeared to her. "Good, good, you're almost done. Come, Kagome, I want to show you my surprise."

That gleam was back in full force and the woman's curiosity got the better of her. She stood and took the man's proffered hand, allowing him to lead her from the room. He guided her across the grand main entryway and through a doorway, beneath the sweeping staircase, that she'd never entered before. It revealed a stone-walled set of stairs, which appeared to lead down into the basement of the villa.

Kagome eyed the man sideways as they descended it and walked down a narrow stone passageway. "Where are we going? The wine cellar? Or is this where you keep your art collection?"

He merely raised his eyebrows evasively with an amused sort of smile. "You'll see soon enough. But I guarantee you'll be pleased."

They made a couple of turns here and there, Kagome's curiosity growing ever stronger as they moved. Finally they reached a passageway that dead-ended with a heavy, metal door, outside which a grey-clad soldier stood.

Kagome frowned questioningly at Kouga as he released her and moved to open the door. What was he up to? Was this some sort of trap? Did he intend to lock her up?

All her questions were answered as the wolf-youkai swung back the heavy door and nudged her forward so she could peer into the dark room beyond.

Her heart stopped, time stopped, for all she could see was a pair of very familiar, shocked, amber eyes peering back at her through the darkness and the slight glow of silver framing them as his hair reflected the light from the hall. She had never expected to see those eyes again.

Oh my god...Inuyasha...

* * *

A/N: Review pretty, pretty please -- good or bad, whatever! I'm going to need a few pick-me-ups this week especially with all this stuff going on, so drop me a line and tell me what you think. Emails, IMs, anything is welcome and appreciated.

    Oh, if you do review, tell me, did you see the end part coming or was it a surprise? If you saw it coming, when did you first suspect? I'm just curious – it helps to know this kind of thing for my writing in general because, as I always say, I know what's coming since I wrote it, so it's always obvious to me! Thanks. I love you guys!