Disclaimer: The characters of Inuyasha are owned by Rumiko Takahashi, but this story belongs to me.

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Decisions

"I'm worried."

Sleepily Kagome opened her eyes and peered across to the other bed at Shippo. "About what?"

He sighed heavily, turning on his side to face his friend. "Every time I pass a door I have this uncontrollable urge to go in and loot the place. I'm gonna turn into some sort of kleptomaniac! And I keep looking for treasure boxes."

"Ah," she laughed, "The side effects of RPG overload. Maybe we'll hunt you down a good shooter game or maybe one of those farming games. That should cure you."

"Or that dating simulation game."

"Quit helping, Miroku," warned Kagome as she attempted to sit up. Her body felt like it had been flattened by a steam roller then ran over with a truck with snow chains. All in all, she felt a little bit better than yesterday.

"Go back to bed," mumbled Inuyasha as he threw his arm over his eyes.

Kagome looked down in between the beds and saw Inuyasha wrapped up in his blanket. It looked like the cloth had come alive in the middle of the night and had attacked him or something. Reaching down she gently took a lock of his hair. It was black again. Nope, no dog ears either. When she looked at his face she saw that he was watching her with now wide awake eyes. Eyes that were no longer golden.

Sango moaned as she rolled out of bed. "I'm starving! Room service better have food this morning! I can't believe we didn't get a single solitary thing to eat last night. They couldn't have possibly have run out of EVERYTHING!"

"Maybe they restocked," suggested Shippo as he inched forward, keeping a close eye on Sango.

"Since last night? Are you delusional?" Her arms flung about wildly in the air. "Can't you see it is a conspiracy to keep us weak and starved?"

"Hmm," he said as he gingerly let his feet touch the floor, inches from Inuyasha's head. His body was tensing. His eyes darted around the room under lowered lashes. Then, without warning he bolted.

For a moment everyone was frozen. Then they realized where he was heading.

"The hot water!" yelped Sango as she jumped from the bed.

Kouga cursed as he too made a beeline for the only bathroom in the room. The two of them stood outside of the door, banging on it and yelling that he better hurry up. Miroku simply mumbled incoherently in his sleep and turned over, spreading himself out over the entire bed. Inuyasha took the opportunity to sneak up on the other bed and steal Sango's spot, snuggling down into the warm covers.

"Inuyasha?"

He groaned. Maybe if he pretended to be asleep she would go back to sleep too.

"Inuyasha? I have to go to the bathroom."

"Can't you hold it?"

She wiggled a bit. "No."

"Kagome… I didn't sleep at all last night. Just give me five minutes."

Smiling warmly she ruffled his hair. "Get some rest, Inuyasha. I'll have one of the others take me to the other room."

Let's see… the only ones who would be carrying her would be either Kouga or Miroku. Nope. Not gonna happen. Grumpily he kicked off the covers, gave one last longing look at the warm bed, then scooped Kagome up and carried her to the door. After swiping the key card to the other room from the dresser (quite the feat considering he was holding Kagome at the time), he hollered out that they would be back.

The other room wasn't far away at all. He let himself into the room and took Kagome into the bathroom.

"You sure you don't need any help?" When she gasped in outrage he held up his hands to ward off any attacks, "I meant that I could go get Sango or something. I'm not a pervert!" Most of the time, he amended mentally.

While Kagome was in the bathroom, Inuyasha decided to crawl into one of the other beds. It wasn't warm from being slept in, but it was soft enough. Just as he closed his eyes the door flew open. He cursed at his stupidity for not swiping BOTH keycards to this room as Kouga stomped into the room.

"Sango beat you, huh?"

"Shut up. I LET her go next." He did a little dance. "Isn't Kagome done yet?"

"I dunno. Ask her." He closed his eyes again.

"Uh… I'll wait…"

Soon Shippo came into the room as well. Inuyasha made mental plans to kill Kouga for leaving the door open. He decided to go ahead and add Shippo to that list of people to kill when he jumped up on the bed beside him and started reading items from the breakfast menu. Out loud.

A few minutes later Sango came in as well. Kouga dashed from the room when he saw her. She gave him a wave as he left in a hurry.

"Wonder if I should have told him that Miroku went in to take a shower," she pondered aloud as she sat on the neatly made bed, propping her feet up on the other bed where Inuyasha was trying in vain to sleep. "Have you called room service yet, Shippo? I'm absolutely starving!"

"Inuyasha!"

He groaned. The fates were determined to not let him sleep. Wearily he pulled himself out of bed and went over to the bathroom. Kagome opened the door and peeked out, Inuyasha let himself in. She was properly covered and was leaning wearily against the sink. He frowned at how drained of energy she looked.

"Thanks," she whispered in his ear as he carried her to the bed.

He had just brushed Kagome's hair out of her eyes when Kouga burst into the room, looking like a man about to die in agony. Feeling in a mean mood since all he had wanted was five minutes of peace and quiet that everyone was determined he not have, Inuyasha made a break from the little room, deciding it was the perfect time to take a shower. The whimper he heard on the other side of the door when he slid the lock in place almost made the lack of sleep worth it.

After a nice long hot shower, Inuyasha finally went back into the room. He looked down at the smashed phone by the door.

"No food in the kitchen?" he asked in amusement.

"Can't we just go out to eat?" asked Kagome. The sound came out muffled since she had a pillow over her head. Inuyasha was trying to decide if someone was trying to suffocate her or she was trying to block out all the sounds. Considering the cursing and snarling in the room, he was guessing it wasn't an attempted murder.

"We can't be dragging you all over town," sighed Sango, trying to keep her temper and her voice calm while she lifted the pillow off of Kagome's head.

"Then you guys go out to eat and bring me back something."

The others were eager to go, even as a human with pathetic senses Inuyasha could almost smell the longing to flee. But no one wanted Kagome to feel left out, or jealous, or abandoned. Or hungry.

"Maybe we can just order something delivered," suggested Miroku, who evidently made his way into the previously empty hotel room, hair still damp from his shower.

"Just go have some breakfast. I'll be fine. I'm tired and I'll just sleep." She yawned dramatically. "Just bring me back something."

"What would you like?" asked Sango as she headed for the door.

"Chocolate."

"Ooookay… nothing wrong with chocolate for breakfast," smiled Miroku. "Sounds very nutritional and healthy."

She cracked open one eye and glared. "If I don't get chocolate, just go ahead and kill me."

Shippo was already out the door, bouncing up and down in excitement in the hallway. Sango pushed Miroku out the door and grabbed Kouga's sleeve to pull him along. She reached into Miroku's back pocket and took out his wallet and counted the cash in there. Just enough for a decent meal. Miroku opened his mouth to make a comment, but decided against in, just in case she never did anything like that again if he did.

"Come on, Inuyasha," she called as she counted the money again. "Pancakes await!"

Inuyasha yawned dramatically too. "I think I'll just stay here and keep Kagome company. Maybe catch a nap."

Sango narrowed her eyes at him, slipping the wallet into her own pocket before crossing her arms over her chest. "Last time you were left alone with Kagome, you turned demon and kidnapped her."

"Whatever. Bring me back donuts."

After a short debate, the others finally decided to leave without him.

"Wait!"

With a loud groan, the four friends, who were soooo close to escaping for food, turned to look at Kagome. They were astonished, however, to see her hands glowing pink.

"What in the world?" asked Sango quietly, not really expecting an answer.

Kagome opened her hands slowly. In her palms, the jewel was glowing pink. The gasped in amazement as the jewel slowly pulsated with light.

"Midoriko," whispered Kagome.

The woman appeared as if summoned.

"We were so close," Shippo whimpered to Sango. "We were so close to breakfast…" Sango sadly ruffled his hair.

"You must return to the jewel," Midoriko told Kagome. "You must return immediately."

"What? No way!" exclaimed an outraged Inuyasha, who, the others noticed, suddenly had golden eyes, silver hair, fangs, and claws. His hands were flexing, as if looking for a phantom sword hilt. It was probably a good thing that the weapons were near the door and not within reach of the demon.

"Blast," grumped Miroku, "I was so busy looking at Midoriko that I didn't see him change. What made him change?" The others shrugged.

"What we need to do," growled Inuyasha, which sounded much more threatening now that he was back in demon form, "Is hunt Naraku down and kill him."

Midoriko smiled. "Yes."

The priestess explained to the group that Naraku had found a way into the half of the jewel that was still in his possession, and was training and growing in power. They would have to find him and destroy him before he became unbeatable. She reminded them how time moves differently within the jewel, and that even though only days passed here, months may have passed inside of the jewel.

"How did he get in the jewel?" asked Kagome as she studied the pink jewel in her hand. She found that when she turned the jewel that Midoriko's image would shimmer. "And are YOU in the jewel too?"

"Yes, my soul resides within the jewel. For now. A powerful priestess is the only one who can live in the jewel or place another inside."

"So… does this mean that the jewel is inside of the jewel?"

Midoriko paused, then turned her attention to Shippo. "I do not understand your question, young one."

"Naraku has the jewel. Now he's inside of the jewel with the jewel? How can that be possible?"

The priestess smiled. "It isn't. That is why the jewel must be in the possession of one in this world."

"Who?" asked Kagome.

"Perhaps the one who put him there."

"So we go in, find Naraku, kill him, and come back. Right?"

"Correct."

"Can he die?"

Midoriko smiled at Kagome gently. "Yes. Everyone can die."

"I mean, while we fight inside the jewel, can he really be killed?"

"Yes."

"We could be killed." It wasn't a question this time.

"Yes."

No QUIT options. No restart buttons. No way to End Game. If they go back in the jewel, they may not make it back out. And they had worked so hard to get back out!

"But if he's trapped in the jewel, can't we just leave him there?" asked Inuyasha.

"I wish it were that simple. But it is not. When he is strong enough, he will be able to leave the jewel. And when the jewel is reunited and in his hands, Naraku will be unstoppable. If you wait too long, it will be too late. You must stop him now."

"What happens if we just leave him in there?" asked Shippo.

"Then he will eventually come out on his own. But when he does, he will be all powerful. What do you suppose an all powerful being who desires to posses and dominate all will do?"

Inuyasha put his hand over Kagome's. "We'll go," the others nodded in unison. "But Kagome will stay here."

"What!"

He cringed at her outraged tone, but when he faced her, it was with a face that could have been made from stone. "You're hurt. There is no way that you'll be able to fight. You can't even make it to the bathroom on your own. I won't risk you dying."

"Kagome must go," insisted Midoriko. "You need her power."

"She's HURT!" he snarled.

His claws seemed to lengthen and faint lines of purple began to appear on his face. But Midoriko wasn't afraid. She smiled at the dog demon. "Her body will be whole once she is in the jewel. We will be sending your spirits, not your bodies."

"Can you do that without the machines?" asked Sango, who really wasn't looking forward to the humiliation of being hooked up again.

"Yes."

"But we won't be safe if we're all lying here in comas," said Sango. "What if Naraku's employees come here to try and kill us while we sleep."

"I will protect you. I have considerable power of my own." The priestess actually smirked!

The group looked at each other. They knew that they would be going back to fight. It was inevitable.

"Aren't you IN the jewel though?" asked Kagome.

Midoriko seemed sad. "I am of both worlds for now."

"Why does Inuyasha become a demon in this world?" asked Kouga. "The kid and I can't. The three of us were all demons in the game. Why does HE and Miroku get to keep their powers? Will we get out powers back when we go in the jewel? Can you find a way to let us keep our powers too?"

"It is interesting," she said with a twinkle in her eyes, "To have watched this phenomenon. I believe that he changes when he feels that Kagome is in danger. Somehow the demon in him must have bonded himself to her within the jewel. Being close to Kagome, I feel that he draws on her magic to transform himself into the best suited protector." She turned her gaze towards the others. "As for Miroku, he and Sango had no magical abilities within the game. You get to keep the knowledge you acquired inside. Sango recalls her training as a slayer. Miroku recalls his training as a monk and is able to use the magical scrolls. As for your other questions, I do not yet have the answers. We shall see."

"I should've chosen something non-magical," muttered Shippo and he stuffed his hands in his pockets.

"We'll go," Inuyasha said again. "All of us."

Midoriko smiled at each person before closing her eyes and concentrating on her spell.

"Wait!"

All eyes turned to Kagome. She was struggling to sit up. Inuyasha was concerned with how much difficulty she was having sitting up. She had been recovering at an amazing rate, but she was still weak and tired. Maybe having her come along was a bad idea.

"Give us a few hours. Let us call our families and loved ones to talk to them. Let us go get something to eat." She didn't miss the grateful looks sent her way by her hungry friends.

"There is little time, young miko."

"Well, I'm not leaving until I've had chocolate and a bubble bath!" She begged Midoriko to understand, that this may be the last time they had the chance to eat a burger or some chocolate or have a bubble bath. It may be the last time they ever talk to their families. Ever. She didn't want to say the words out loud though, and hoped that the priestess would be able to hear what she wasn't saying.

Luckily, she did.

"You are wise, young miko. Eat and rest. I will return at dusk." Then she was gone.

For a few moments, the friends stared at the empty space where Midoriko had stood. Then they stared at the jewel that lay quietly in Kagome's hand. Eventually, they looked at each other. They were really going back inside.

"I'm ordering the most fattening food on the menu," said Sango, "And having two desserts."