Disclaimer: The characters of InuYasha are not mine; they are property of Rumiko Takahashi, Shogakukan, Yomiuri TV, Sunrise, and Viz. The following story is for entertainment and not profit.

Chapter 20: In Need of a Plan

Kagome found herself becoming more and more frustrated by Inu Yasha and his constant grumblings. Of course, it didn't help having Sango and Miroku's newly consummated relationship flaunted about her, however unintentionally. Upon waking she was quite happy to find that the couple had already left. Kohaku was also absent which made her happy for different reasons. Since the day before last he had taken to spending the majority of his time entertaining Rin. The only one left in the room with her was Shippo. He lay on the futon beside her colouring with a pack of crayons she had taken to carrying just for him.

"Are you awake now?" His little voice questioned as he continued to draw, his eyes never leaving the paper.

Kagome pulled herself upright to stretch and yawn. "I guess I should get up now. How long ago did everyone else leave?"

"Well, Inu Yasha was still here when I woke up, but he left a little while ago. He said that he would rather hang out with Sango and Miroku than an immature shrimp like me so I let him go. I'd rather play by myself than have to listen to him all day."

"I'm sure Rina and Kohaku would play with you."

"Yeah," he said as he finally looked up from his drawing, "but I didn't want you to wake up all alone."

Kagome felt the first tickling of tears as she scooped up the bundle of fur. His child-sized hands reached out to return her hug. "Thank you, Shippo. You're always so sweet."

The slapping of her bare feet against the hard floor got farther away, he had failed to catch her again. A small squeak of victory slipped out before she could stop it. Realizing her mistake she moved quickly, just managing to escape his next lounge.

Kohaku had suggested the game, a variation of one of the training exercises he had enjoyed as a child. Rin had gone first, allowing him to blindfold her to black out her vision. He had told her to spin while counting to ten and then to come after him. She had actually caught him quite quickly. Still staggering from spinning she had stumbled into him, knocking them both to the floor in a tangle of limbs. Kohaku had complimented her on not only finding him, but taking him down as well saying she would make a great demon exterminator.

Her cheeks had become suddenly warm as he had removed the binging from her eyes allowing their gaze to meet. Moving his leg out from under her, Kohaku had gotten to his feet and moved to the center of the room. There he had tied the blindfold over his own eyes and begun his turn, although it was taking him much longer to catch her.

Kohaku felt the air move as she raced by him yet again, 'Come on Kohaku,' he chastised himself, 'you may not have done this in a long time, but you shouldn't be this bad.'

'Stop trying to see with your eyes, Kohaku.' His father's voice filled his head. 'Let your other senses form the picture of your surroundings and then act.' As his father's voice faded, the image of his lifeless body pushed its way into the forefront. Kohaku could smell the blood around him and feel the movements of the soldiers as they moved to take aim behind him.

Lounging forward he grasp the bony wrist of his prey. "Hooray! You caught me!" the bubbly smile in her voice pulled him from his dark memories.

"Can it be my turn next?" Kohaku lifted the blindfold from his eyes to see a curious kitsune waiting patiently by the doorway.

"Absolutely."

"Well, how would you suggest we beat Naraku?"

It had been five days since they had first begun to look for a plan that everyone could agree on. Naosu, however, had been holding her tongue hoping that one of them would stumble onto the obvious plan. But now the question had been put to her, directly.

"I have no memory of the Shikon no Tama ever being completed." She started. "There was one shard that he was never able to find and then he used one of them to sustain the life of by great- grandmother." She fixed her gaze on the patterns in the stone floor to avoid looking at Sango. "I also know that Kagome currently cares two shards from the leader of the wolf tribe."

Kagome attempted to hide her blush as she remembered her last encounter with the enigmatic charmer.

"Ka-go-me!" Inu Yasha growled.

"WHAT!" she snapped causing Inu Yasha's ears to perk back in surprise from her anger. "It's not like you and I are a couple! At least Kouga has admitted his feelings to me." Inu Yasha seemed to grow smaller as if trying to hide amongst the air, looking for shelter from the piercing gaze that bore down on him. Kagome had been angry with him before, but this time something was different.

"If you two need to have your own discussion we can continue this later." Sesshomaru's flat tone broke the silence.

"No." her voice still sharp as she turned from the now silenced pup at her side. "Please continue Naosu. You are right; I have Kouga's jewel shards."

Naosu nodded. "When Naraku attacked the village the first thing he did was send a Saimyoushou to bring him your shards, hoping they would be all he would need to complete the jewel. He did not have a chance to join them with his own until after the battle, at which time he decided that with all his strongest enemies defeated there was no rush to do so. He did eventually attempt to complete it, however, by that time he had lost one of the fragments. He accused my great-grandmother of hiding it from him. She always claimed she had no idea what he was talking about. He eventually killed her for her insolence, right in front of their son."

Naosu paused to blink back her tears before they could escape, once again reliving the bloody events through her memories. "My point is," she continued as the illusionary blood faded from her hands, "that it was always Naraku's plan to complete the Shikon no Tama before the final battle. Which means that even now he is after any shards he can find."

"You can't mean to use yourself as bait! It's far too dangerous." Kagome wasn't exactly sure what it was about the current conversation that told her that was the conclusion they were headed for, but she wasn't about to let anyone sacrifice themselves if there was another way.

"I think it's a great idea." Inu Yasha braved as he had been thinking of using her to draw out Naraku the whole time, but knew that if he were the one to suggest it there would be dire consequences. "It's the only plan so far that doesn't have a down side."

"Thank you, Lord Inu Yasha, for supporting my decision." Naosu's words were cold and followed by heavy silence. Both Sango and Miroku glared at the silver-haired hanyou, only slightly surprised by his seemingly heartless comments. Kagome, however, sat with her back to him, refusing to acknowledge even his presence any longer.

"We shall stop for a short break to allow everyone to consider this new plan…or to come up with a better one." The decision was made. Sesshomaru made it clear that it was not to be debated. The meeting was adjourned.