Chapter 62

After feeding the hungry horde and getting her pups off to bed, Kagome started looking through her spell books. She hadn't realized how long she was pouring over the books until Inuyasha came out, and rubbing his eyes, said to her,

"Hey stranger. My bed is empty."

"Well, go back into it and it won't be.", Kagome retorted.

"All right, woman, you know what I mean.", Inuyasha responded as he sat down beside her. Curling up next to her, he began kissing her neck and shoulder and, in the most seductive voice he could muster, said

"Come to bed, Koshii, I'll make it worth your while.", as he continued to play with her ear and kiss her neck. He clearly was having somewhat of an effect on her, as she stopped what she was doing.

"Inuyasha, I need to find a spell for Naraku."

"Take a break and come back to it tomorrow. When your mind is clearer."

Closing her book, Kagome agreed and let Inuyasha lead her to the bedroom. The next morning, after breakfast, Kagome started looking through the books again. This time, she believed she found what would work.

"I found it!", she yelled excitedly as Inuyasha came over to her.

"What is it?", he asked.

"An illusion that will show you the true identity of the person you want to check out. And I also found a spell that I can trap Naraku's spirit in a demon dimension that he shouldn't be able to get out of."

"So what do we do now?", Inuyasha asked.

"Now I practice. And we wait."

"How long?"

"I don't know, but maybe we should use some bait."

"Bait? Like what?"

"The shikon jewel?"

"But you said the jewel was inside ... wait ... WAAAAIT a minute ... you're not gonna use Kaori as bait."

"It may be our only chance. I think we should at least pass it by Kaori and let her decide."

"She's too young to make that sorta decision."

"She's 13-years-old. Some 13-year-olds are getting married."

"No. Absolutely not! No way! No! No! No!"

"No what, papa?", asked a voice from the hall.

"Kaori, your father doesn't want you to decide whether you want help us or not."

"Kagome, don't go there!"

"Help you with what?", Kaori asked.

Kagome explained everything to Kaori and the adventurous child's eyes widen fast.

"Oh please papa! I want to help you and mama."

"NO! That's my final decision!", Inuyasha stated adamantly.

"But, papa, you and mama will be right there, you wouldn't let me get hurt."

Both Kagome and Kaori started to cry. They both knew Inuyasha well enough to know he couldn't stand to see a woman cry. With both his mate and oldest daughter crying, he didn't stand a chance. He didn't know they were faking the tears.

"Oh ALRIGHT! Just stop crying! PLEASE!", Inuyasha begged the women.

Kaori rushed up and kissed her father, "Thank you, papa! You won't regret it! I love you!"

Inuyasha hugged his daughter and whispered, "I love you, too.", back to her, while he stared at his mate, who was now smiling. After Kaori left, Inuyasha knelt down by his mate and said,

"I know I've been conned.", then he kissed her. "Practice those spells.", he said as he left.

As Kagome prepared herself for the spells, she thought to herself, 'One day that isn't going to work.'

Inuyasha went outside to talk with Miroku (and, unfortunately, Kouga) and prepare a battle plan. They needed to find Naraku. And fast. As they talked, Kouga said that sightings of ghosts and specters were coming from villages south of the mountains. Close to Kaede's village.

"Maybe he's hunting for the shikon jewel. Being only a spirit, his senses are probably not as astute as they were.", Miroku commented.

Sango joined the group and said, "There's a big village just north of Kaede's. That might be his next stop."

Inuyasha thought for a moment, then said, "I'll send Yasha to the village. He can tell us if there are any strange going ons."

"Is that a wise idea, to send a kid?", Kouga asked.

"Yasha has my sense of smell and he's old enough to take care of himself. Besides, Naraku doesn't know Yasha, so Yasha can walk around freely. If Naraku sees any of us there, he won't do anything.", Inuyasha said.

"Ok. It's your pup.", Kouga said.

Inuyasha called Yasha over and explained all that was going on. After the group filled him in, Yasha agreed to do it. Packing the katana that his father had gifted him with on his 12th birthday, Yasha sped through the trees to his mission. Inuyasha just sighed and thought,

'Be careful, my son.'